Hundreds of state employees and employees of state contractors either are not being paid or have not been paid for time they have already worked. That's right- people who work for the state have not been paid by the state. I know this is true, because my wife- employed by a state contractor- is still owed money. It is rumored that the state has not paid her employer on its contract to provide service to residents of the state of Illinois since May 2010. What is being done about it? The current administration is doing nothing to get these employees paid.
I know my wife's employer is not the only contractor involved. I received the following email from another person who has not received payroll due to the state's financial crisis:
Here it is October and the non pay problem continues. I have been working as a personal assistant since August 17, 2010 and, as yet, have not received a pay check. the state owes me over $3,000.00. Despite the fact that I report for work every shift I cannot pay my rent or buy groceries. This job is my sole source of income. My credit is suffering, not because I have been laid off or downsized but just because the state of Illinois has not paid me. I know many personal assistants that are in the same situation as I am in. We will be forced to look for other employment which will leave Illinois's most vulnerable citizens with no one to care for them. What is our recourse? Shouldn't we be able to sue the state for non payment of work done? I find it appalling that Gov. Quinn gave raises to many of his staffers while Illinois is so far in debt. I'm confident that Quinn has not gone 8 weeks without being paid with no end in sight. What can be done to rectify this injustice!
It's a good question. What can be done to help this injustice? People should be paid for the time they work. A vote for Quinn is a vote for the status quo- not getting paid for work already performed. However, a vote for Brady could mean the elimination of the e-mailer's (or my wife's) position.
Even though my wife's job could be on the line, I cannot fathom voting for a man who has had a dress rehearsal for the job he seeks and has failed miserably. Pat Quinn is at the head of a state government that has gone from a fiscal disaster, to an absolute fiscal catastrophe. What's his plan for cutting the budget down $13 billion? Borrow more money is Pat Quinn's solution. Governor Quinn is against is cutting pension payments which will cure the state's budget deficit within three years. What's his plan to pay the $4.6 billion in overdue bills?
Maybe it is time we ask. Here are a couple email addresses for Governor Quinn, please feel free to see if he has a solution:
policy@quinnforillinois.com
Or go to this page on the Illinois governor's website to email him your question: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/ContacttheGovernor.aspx
And remember, only 15 days until the election.
Filed under: Illinois Politics
Tags: Bill Brady, Pat Quinn
StephenLemieux
1 week, 5 days ago