Attorney General Madigan Seeks Court Guidance On Illinois Bills
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois officials will be in Cook County Circuit Court on Tuesday seeking guidance on what bills the state must pay without spending authority.
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.
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.
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