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Tuesday Court Hearings Focus on Budget Stalemate

budget collage

Illinois officials will be in court on Tuesday, seeking guidance on what bills the state must pay without spending authority in two separate cases.CASE ONE
Attorney General Lisa Madigan has asked a judge to clarify what state government is obligated to pay even though lawmakers and the governor have not approved a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

I believe that bringing this action will be the best approach to efficiently resolve these challenges. ~Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Without appropriation power, the comptroller is likely limited to pay only crucial bills _ debt service, federal-program participation fees, payments required by court orders.

Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger wants the judge to decree that all state employees fit into that category. That's based on a 2009 court order during another budget impasse.

Democrat Madigan says that and an earlier court order indicate that only pay limited to federal minimum wage is allowed.

CASE TWO
An advocate for children in the Illinois child-protection system will ask a federal judge Tuesday to order the state to continue funding its services despite the budget deadlock in the state capital.        

The American Civil Liberties Union says it needs a U.S. District Court to compel the state comptroller to keep money flowing as ordered by a federal consent decree.        

Spokesman Ed Yohnka says the ACLU believes Comptroller Leslie Munger agreed last week to keep writing checks. But he says Munger reneged later and said she couldn't pay state employees working for the Department of Children and Family Services.        

Munger issued a statement Monday saying she will be in state court Tuesday seeking payment for all state employees. Her spokesman rebuffed the notion of a dispute with the ACLU.

Jennifer Fuller joined Capitol News Illinois in July 2023 as the organization’s broadcast director. She will oversee the launch and operations of CNI’s new broadcast division.

Contact Jennifer Fuller at jfuller@capitolnewsillinois.com
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