A group of Democratic Illinois state legislators are suing to get their paychecks more quickly. As Illinois Public Radio's Brian Mackey reports, they've gone without compensation since early summer.
After nearly a year-and-a-half without a full budget, Illinois is taking months and months to pay its bills. Earlier this year, Comptroller Leslie Munger said she was putting legislator pay at the back of the line with every other state IOU.
Democrats, like Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, from Hillside, say that's just a way to help push Gov. Bruce Rauner's controversial agenda. And that, he says, is unconstitutional.
"The executive branch cannot ... coerce or use undue influence to pressure the legislative branch."
Munger says Welch and the other five Democrats named in the lawsuit are putting themselves ahead of hospitals, schools, and human service contractors — all waiting for Illinois to make good on its debts.
