The Illinois comptroller has appealed a Cook County judge's ruling that state lawmakers must be paid on time despite their failure to pass a budget.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Wednesday that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office filed the appeal on her behalf Tuesday. The judge ruled last week in favor of several lawmakers who sued Mendoza's predecessor asking for pay.
Mendoza said she would release legislator back pay but also planned to appeal.
The lack of a state budget has caused more than $12.8 billion worth of unpaid bills. Mendoza's office said Wednesday that she believes payments should be prioritized for the state's "most vulnerable" instead of lawmaker paychecks.
The judge based the ruling on a 2014 law passed after then-Gov. Pat Quinn withheld paychecks over pension reform.
