By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network
CHICAGO – Attorneys asking the state to comply with an order to pay for services for the developmentally disabled say the comptroller’s office is lying about having a shortage of cash.
The state had been ordered to pay service providers by August 21, but the comptroller’s office couldn’t comply, blaming a “severe cash shortage.” Attorneys were brought back before a federal judge Wednesday to possibly hold the state in contempt of court.
While the judge made no ruling there, the state was given until Friday to explain which providers have and haven’t been paid.
Bill Choslovsky, attorney for Chicago’s Misericordia Home, says any suggestion the state can’t meet the financial demands of court orders and consent decrees is false.
“The state even said this morning that they are paying some bills not subject to consent decree,” Choslovsky said. “So at the end of the day, they’re picking and choosing, and choosing to violate a court order.”
Choslovsky wouldn’t speculate on why the state would take that action.
“The most generous explanation is the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand’s doing,” Choslovsky said.
Comptroller Leslie Munger didn’t directly address those accusations in a statement released after the hearing.
“My priority remains to ensure that organizations serving our elderly, children and other most vulnerable residents take precedence when it comes to state payments,” Munger said.
