By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady said it’s unfortunate Syrian refugees who want to resettle in the U.S. should have to face tougher scrutiny, but Brady said terrorists have ruined it for them.

Brady is backing Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call to temporarily stop those refugees from coming into Illinois.

PODCAST: Listen to Tim and Colleen’s interview with Brady on WJBC.

“I support the fact the governor is saying until such time that we have a better handle through the federal government, refugees (can’t) come into this state,” Brady said. “I wish the situation was different, but it’s not.”

Brady didn’t say specifically what else the state could do to more thoroughly screen those refugees.

“I think probably you should ask the governor that question,” Brady said.

Rauner also called for better screening of refugees following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

Lawsuit

Some home health care workers in Illinois fear they could lose their insurance because the state hasn’t paid it’s portion. That’s why the Service Employees International Union is taking the state to court.

Brady said that’s one more reason why Illinois needs to pass a budget.

“This is another example of how the meter is running and the debt continues to escalate when there is no appropriation in place to play,” Brady said.

Brady added that once a budget is passed, the challenge will be determining who gets paid first.

Many state employees, including lawmakers who use state insurance, are expected to pay insurance out of pocket until a budget is passed.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].