Rep. Sandack Joins Call for State Workers to be Paid

State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) this week joined several of his House Republican colleagues in sponsoring a bill that would ensure state workers get paid during the ongoing budget impasse.

“State workers who staff our agencies, universities and community colleges are expected to show up for work every day right now, even though Comptroller Munger has no authority to issue their pay checks this month,” said Sandack. “These hard-working Illinoisans provide important services in critical areas, and we need to make sure they continue to receive the paychecks they have earned.”

HB4245 seeks to amend the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to provide for a continuing appropriation for each State agency to meet personnel expenditures for each payroll period when a permanent budget is not in place. The bill would apply to all state agencies and also include state universities, community colleges and other areas where personnel expenditures are typically made through an annual State budget. Funding for salaries would match the appropriations made in FY15.

“It has become pretty clear in recent weeks that leading Democrats have no problem using state workers as pawns in their political games,” Sandack said. “It’s shameful, disrespectful, and is an affront to people who have families to take care of. It will be interesting to see if Speaker Madigan allows HB4245 to advance through the House committee process, or if he will decide to continue holding these state employees hostage in his budget fight with the Governor.”