Comptroller says she can't pay Illinois lawmakers

Friday, July 26, 2013

Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said Thursday her hands are tied and she cannot issue paychecks to state lawmakers.
Topinka said Gov. Pat Quinn’s action earlier this month to cut money from the budget needed to pay legislators prevents her from issuing their paychecks. Quinn said he was halting pay to lawmakers because they haven’t passed a pension reform bill.
Topinka said she reviewed the issue with her legal staff, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office and attorneys for Quinn and the legislature. She said a previous court decision involving former Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch held that the comptroller can’t issue checks without an appropriation.