CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois Senate panel is scheduled to hear testimony on the status of payments to social service providers during the budget stalemate.

No spending plan is in place for the fiscal year that began July 1. However, court orders say many social service providers must be paid.

Comptroller Leslie Munger’s office said last month there wasn’t enough money to make payments. The providers went to court to ask for a deadline, saying compliance was necessary. Then a judge decided not to hold the state in contempt.

State lawyers say they face competing legal obligations, adding that meeting payment deadlines should not mean ” doing the impossible.”

Lawmakers, including State Sen. Daniel Biss, have asked for more information and invited the Comptroller to testify.

 

 

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