AG Madigan seeks to stop state worker pay without budget

Posted on January 27, 2017

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has gone to court to stop the state from paying employees until a budget is passed. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Lisa Madigan)

By RFD Radio/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – AFSCME-represented state workers have been considering foregoing paychecks with the possibility of a strike on the table.

They are no longer the only state workers worried about future paychecks. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan dropped a bombshell Thursday, filing a motion in St. Clair County Court to stop state worker pay until a budget agreement. That motion would dissolve previous court orders allowing the payment of state employees.

“With a new legislative session now underway, this is an appropriate time to ask the Circuit Court to reconsider this order in light of the changes in the law,” Madigan said in a statement.

The Rauner Administration calls the move disappointing, especially with the Senate considering a bipartisan, balanced budget agreement.

The administration is urging the Attorney General to reconsider this filing and Rauner officials pledge to do all they can to defend employee pay.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza placed the blame at Rauner’s feet.

“Had Governor Rauner met his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget in 2015 or 2016, we would not be facing a scenario where the livelihoods of our frontline employees could be threatened in this way.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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