The State of Illinois is being sued for not paying some of its social service contractors. Lawmakers and the governor have not agreed on a budget in 10 months. But the state authorized contracts for those organizations to keep working, even though the government cannot pay them without a budget. Nancy Ronquillo heads Children’s Home and Aid, which provides services for low income children. It’s one of the contractors suing the state for payment.
"It is just good business to honor your contracts and pay for what you are expecting your contracted partner to deliver," said Ronquillo.
The group of 64 contract providers calls itself Pay Now Illinois and filed the complaint in Cook County Circuit Court. It claims its members are owed more than $100 million for work they've done for taxpayers since the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
The lawsuit claims that Rauner's June 25, 2015, veto of appropriations created an untenable position because his administration proceeded to enforce terms of the contracts despite having no money to pay.
The complaint demands immediate payment.
