News

JUNE UPDATE -- June 15, 2017: Today Pay Now Illinois lost its appeal on the deicision by the Circuit Court of Cook County to dismiss its original lawsuit on August 31, 2016.

Statement from Andrea Durbin, Chair of Pay Now Illinois Coalition on today's decision by the Illinois Appellate Court.

Read the State's Appellate Court Ruling, June 15, 2017

Audio of Oral Arugments in the 1st District Appellate Court hearing, May 4, 2017

Press Releases

Pay Now Illinois Coalition - February 9, 2017 Press Release

Pay Now Illinois Coalition - October 20 Press Release

Pay Now Illinois Coalition - August 31 Press Release

Amicus Brief Press Release from The Shriver Center on behalf of Pay Now Illinois, May 26

Pay Now Illinois Coalition - May 25 Press Release

Pay Now Illinois Coalition - May 4 Press Release

Latest Media Coverage: Original Lawsuit & Appeal

Despite enacting a budget, Illinois has a financial struggle ahead, NPR / Marketplace, July 31, 2017

Illinois ducks human service coalition's pay suit, Law360, July 21, 2017 (Registration required to read)

Groups Illinois owes money to seek time to appeal lawsuit, Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle, July 20, 2017

Pay Now Illinois lawsuit dismissed, Capitol Fax, July 20, 2017

State budget means more certainty for social services, Caritas CEO says, Belleville News-Democrat, July 7, 2017

Crossing party lines, lawmakers end two-year stalemate, Morning Shift / WBEZ (begins at 25:44), July 7, 2017

State has budget after Illinois House overrides Governor Rauner's veto, WGN-TV, July 6, 2017

After Illinois state budget deal, who gets paid first?, CBS2 (video & article), July 6, 2017

Deadbeat Illinois' new budget won't fix what's broken for nonprofits, Crain's Chicago Business, July 6, 2017

Without a budget, what Illinois faces, Chicago Sun-Times, June 30, 2017

'Everything's in danger': Illinois approaches 3rd year without budget, New York Times, June 29, 2017

After 2 years without a budget, debt and pain are mounting in Illinois, NPR, June 29, 2017

What to expect if no Illinois state  budget deal is reached, Chicago Tribune, June 29, 2017

A message to all Illinoisans from State Comptroller Susana Mendoza about the budget crisis, YouTube,, June 29, 2017

How bad is the crisis in Illinois? It has $14.6 billion in unpaid bills, Wall Street Journal, June 27, 2017

Springfield's latest casualty: High-profile non profit decimated, Crain's Chicago Business, June 26, 2017

Living in Illinois teaches people to hate government, Chicago Sun-Times, June 20, 2017

Social service agencies worry about future after latest court setback, Chicago Sun-Times, June 19, 2017

Pressure for budget deal builds as Rauner calls for special session, Cullerton says no stopgap, Chicago Tribune, June 15, 2017

Social service providers lose in appellate court, Crain's Chicago Business, June 15, 2017

Illinois panel won't force budgetless state to pay social services, Law360, June 15, 2017

Appeals panel: Social service agencies can't be paid without state appropriations, Cook County Record, June 15, 2017

Appellate court rules against social service providers, Capitol Fax, June 15, 2017

How Illinois became America's first failed state, Politico, June 10, 2017

Judge rules Illinois not in compliance on Medicaid payments, Associated Press, June 7, 2017

S&P says Illinois debt soon likely to be junk, Crain's Chicago Business, June 7, 2017

Illinois owes billions to suburban nonprofits, companies and government agencies, Daily Herald, June 7, 2017

A look at the damage of Illinois' 3-year budget impasse, Associated Press / The News Tribune, May 31, 2017

Health Insurers stiffed by budgetless Illinois take plea to federal court, Crain's Chicago Business, May 24, 2017

State backlog rises by a billion dollars overnight, Capitol Fax, May 17, 2017

Decatur veterans assistance program to end, Herald & Review, May 15, 2017

Civid Federation hits Rauner, Madigan over budget, Crain's Chicago Business, May 9, 2017

Social service providers await ruling on where their lawsuit should be heard, Northern Public Radio, May 4, 2017

A year later, Illinois service providers back in court seeking money, WTTW Chicago Tonight, May 4, 2017

Attorneys in social service lawsuit argue appeal, US News & World Report, May 4, 2017

Attorneys in social service lawsuit argue appeal, Politico: Illinois Playbook, May 4, 2017

OpEd: Time for Illinois business leaders to demand end to budget brinksmanship, Crain's Chicago Business, May 4, 2017

Our View: Courts shouldn't have to force state to pay contracts, The State Journal-Register, May 2, 2017

Governor Rauner reaches the 839-day benchmark and it's not pretty, Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2017

Illinois is in chaos without adequate revenue, Reboot Illinois, April 4, 2017

Media Coverage: St. Clair County Complaint Filing, February 9, 2017

Illinois budget fight goes back to court(s), Illinois Public Radio, June 12, 2017

Rauner: State workers are different than human service employees, Illinois Public Radio/Morning Edition, March 13, 2017

Ill. human service contractors sue Governor in two counties, Peoria Public Radio, March 13, 2017

Emanuel labels Rauner 'the emperor who wears no clothes', Chicago Sun-Times, March 6, 2017

Judge denies AG Madigan's request to stop state workers' pay, WTTW Chicago Tonight, February 16, 2017

Illinois State of the Budget Commentary, WBEZ, February 15, 2017

Nonprofit fallout as Illinois budget persists in failure to launch, Nonprofit Quarterly, February 15, 2017

State contractors sue for payment, again, Peoria Public Radio/WCBU 89.9, February 10, 2017

Quad Cities organization part of Illinois budget lawsuit, KWQC-TV6, February 10, 2017

Illinois politics can't get more bizarre than in reactions to Lisa Madigan's lawsuit, Reboot Illinois, February 9, 2017

Social service groups file second lawsuit against Rauner, other Illinois leaders, Chicago Tribune, February 9, 2017

For second time first lady's nonprofit sues Rauner, WTTW Chicago Tonight, February 9, 2017

Social service agencies sue state to be paid, Belleville News-Democrat, February 9, 2017

Illinois service providers file 2nd lawsuit demanding pay, Fox 5527 (AP), February 9, 2017

Illinois service providers file 2nd lawsuit demanding pay, WNIU Northern Public Radio (AP), February 9, 2017

Pay Now Illinois files new lawsuit asking for same treatment as state workers, Capitol Fax, February 9, 2017

Diana Rauner's nonprofit among groups again suing governor, state, Chicago Sun-Times, February 9, 2017

Media Coverage: Original Lawsuit & Appeal

Attorney General's motion could rob Governor of his leverage, Rivers' Cities Reader, January 29, 2017

Illinois begins 2017 without a state budget after temporary plan expires, Daily Northwestern, January 6, 2017

Illinois enters 2017 with no state budget, State Journal-Register, December 31, 2016 

Stopgap budget set to expire, returning Rauner-Madigan standoff to where it was last summer, Chicago Tribune, December 30, 2016

Get ready for more stalemate as Illinois stopgap budget expires Sunday, Chicagoist, December 30, 2016

Statehouse Insider: Being correct isn't always enough, State Journal-Register, December 24, 2016

State Week: No holiday cheer at the statehouse, Illinois Public Radio (podcast), December 23, 2016

Illinois social service providers suing for payment, The Southern, December 21, 2016

Unpaid social service providers want an Illinois appellate court to treat the state contracts like AFSCME's. They make a pretty decent case, Capitol Fax, December 21, 2016

With no state budget, domestic violence programs worry about the future, WBEZ, December 21, 2016

Illinois social service providers suing for payment appeal, Chicago Daily Herald, December 21, 2016

Laughter not the best medicine for the state's ills, Chicago Sun-Times, November 22, 2016

As state politicians renew budget talks, social services remain uncertain on future funding, Daily Northwestern, November 21, 2016

Clash over limited cash, News-Gazette, October 23, 2016

Service providers seek Illinois Supreme Court intervention, Washington Times/Associated Press, October 20, 2016

Connections for the Homeless launches awareness campaign, Daily Northwestern, September 21, 2016

Some social service providers still push lawsuit after recent payments from state, Illinois Issues, September 15, 2016

Judge tosses lawsuit seeking Illinois bill payment, Reuters, August 31, 2016

Social services lose lawsuit asking judge to force state of Illinois to pay them, WBEZ, August 31, 2016

Judge tosses social services lawsuit that included Diana Rauner's organization, Chicago Tribune, August 31, 2016

Social service groups lose court case, considering an appeal, Capitol Fax, August 31, 2016

Judge dismisses payment suit filed by social service agencies, Chicago Sun-Times, August 31, 2016

Judge dismisses Illinois social service providers' lawsuit, Pantagraph, August 31, 2016

Unpaid Bills in Illinois, Letter to the Editor, New York Times, August 23, 2016

Social service agencies say state of Illinois 'heartlessly' refuses to pay them, WBEZ, August 20, 2016

State of Illinois called 'heartless' for not fully paying social service agencies, WNIU, August 19, 2016

J.B., M.K. Pritzker give $5 million to Ounce of Prevention Fund, Crain's Chicago Business, August 2, 2016

Illinois Issues: The Budget That Wasn't, NPR Illinois, July 28, 2016

Judge to hear arguments from the "Pay Now Illinois Coalition", Fox News 55/27 WSRP, July 26, 2016

Pay Now Illinois to State: Stop Gap Budget Not Enough, WBEZ / Chicago Public Radio, July 25, 2016

Court date set in budget impasse suit, WSIU / NPR, July 25, 2016

Judge sets August date for arguments in provider lawsuit, Associated Press, July 25, 2016

Providers: Stop gap budget won't have 'meaningful' impact, Associated Press, July 22, 2016

Sinnissippi Centers continues to offer services in spite of the lack of a state budget, Prairie Advocate, July 20, 2016

Budget stalemate wreaked havoc on Illinois's behavioral health-care infrastructure, Chicago Reader, July 15, 2016

Pay Now Illinois moves forward with lawsuit, Associated Press, July 14, 2016

Pay Now Illinois Coalition files lawsuit, Fox News Illinois, July 14, 2016

Pay Now Illinois grows to 99 members, Crain's Chicago Business, July 13, 2016

Social service groups assess impact of stop-gap state budget, Associated Press, July 13, 2016

Some social service groups still won't get paid for work already performed, Capitol Fax, July 13, 2016

Lawmakers hash out a deal but effects of impasse remain, WBEZ / Chicago Public Radio, July 1, 2016

The good news and the bad news on that stopgap state budget, Crain's Chicago Business Editorial, July 1, 2016

Rauner signs stopgap budget, school funding bill - but relief from stalemate proves temporary, Chicago Tribune, July 1, 2016

Illinois's Budget Impasse, The Daily Show, June 28, 2016

Dire scenarios for Illinois in second year without budget, Crain's Chicago Business, June 28, 2016

5 reasons why July 1 means more Illinois budget doom, Daily Herald, June 27, 2016

One-third of United Way groups say shut down looms amid Springfield stalemate, Crain's Chicago Business, June 24, 2016

The price Illinois will pay for its deepening debt, Crain's Chicago Business, June 15, 2016

Illinois budget impasse sets new lows in political, fiscal utility, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 13, 2016

Diana Rauner calls early childhood education funding 'hot mess', Chicago Tribune, June 10, 2016

Awkward: Illinois governor sued by wife's nonprofit, Salon, June 9, 2016

Awkward: Illinois governor sued by wife's nonprofit, The Southern Illinoisan, June 9, 2016

July hearing set in social services lawsuit against Gov. Rauner, Crain's Chicago Business, June 7, 2016

Diana Rauner's dual roles put her in the eye of the budget storm, Crain's Chicago Business, June 4, 2016

In Illinois, governor's wife's group sues governor, AMI Newswire, May 31, 2016

Illinois General Assembly Works to Resolve Budget Impasse, NPR, May 30, 2016

Standstill Consequences, Politico, May 27, 2016 (scroll down to story link)

House Democrats Pass Budget Bill, Rauner Plans Veto, NBC5 Chicago, May 26, 2016

Ill. First Lady's Charity Joins Budget Suit Against Governor, Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 26, 2016

Illinois House Democrats Advance Spending Plan While Veto Looms, WBEZ / Chicago Public Radio, May 26, 2016 (at 4:30 mark)

Governor Rauner sued by wife's non-profit, Illinois Public Radio, May 26, 2016

Madigan budget: $700 million more for schools; Rauner ally says plan is $7 billion short, Chicago Tribune, May 26, 2016

Circus it was, Politico: Illinois Playbook, May 26, 2016 (scroll down to story link)

Governor, Republicans Slam Democratic Budget Proposal, WTTW / Chicago Tonight, May 25, 2016 (at 4:46 mark)

Illinois Service Providers Accelerate State Payment Lawsuit, CBS St. Louis, May 25, 2016

Madigan sends message, GOP digs in - and 'people are dying', Chicago Sun-Times, May 25, 2016

Rauner vs. Rauner: First lady takes governor to court, Crain's Chicago Business, May 25, 2016

Illinois service providers accelerate state payment lawsuit, FOX 32 Chicago, May 25, 2016

Illinois house passes speaker Madigan's budget proposal, Progress Illinois, May 25, 2016

Social service agencies' motion: state must pay now or risk statewide 'public emergency', Cook County Record, May 25, 2016

Group run by Rauner's wife added to lawsuit against him, WQAD Quad Cities, May 25, 2016

Organizations unite to sue the governor of Illinois, Univision Chicago, May 24, 2016

Letter: Why our agency is suing the state of Illinois, State Journal-Register, May 23, 2016

Madigan: No Reason To Hold Up Social Service Funding, WUIS / Illinois Public Radio, May 23, 2016

Can we trust a state that blows off its contracts like Illinois?, Crain's Chicago Business Editorial, May 21, 2016

Illinois' IOUs to social service agencies: $350 million and counting, Crain's Chicago Business, May 16, 2016

Andrea Durbin of Pay Now Illinois: "A Contract is a Contract", WGN-Radio, May 15, 2016

Andrea Durbin with Illinois Collaboration on Youth Talks Rauner on The Wayne Besen Show, WCPT 820AM, May 13, 2016

Politics as Usual: Health department joins coalition to sue the state, The Register-Mail, May 13, 2016

Rauner unfairly suffers from Brownback Effect, Illinois School News Service, May 13, 2016

Morning Spin: Rauner shares 'frustration' of social service providers suing him to get paid, Chicago Tribune, May 12, 2016

Illinois lawmakers approve $700 million to pay social services in part, Reuters, May 12, 2016

Lack of State Payments Takes Toll On Businesses, Illinois Edition / Illinois Public Radio, May 10, 2016

Illinois Republican Lawmaker: Budget Proposal Possibly on the Horizon, Progress Illinois, May 9, 2016

64 service agencies sue Illinois governor for $100M past due, Washington Times, May 6, 2016

RICO Health Dept. cuts employees and programs; Illinois owes them $800,000, WQAD8, May 5, 2015

Coalition of social services sues Rauner, staff over unpaid contracts, The Daily Northwestern, May 5, 2016

Social service workers sue state for wages, Illinois Homepage.net, May 5, 2016

Social service agencies sue Illinois state leaders for missed payments, WSIL-TV, May 5, 2016

Human service providers say Illinois forced lawsuit, CINewsNow, May 5, 2016

Stateline social service agencies speak out about their $100 million lawsuit,  NBC13 Rockford, May 5, 2016

Social service groups with state contracts sue Bruce Rauner, Chicago Reader, May 5, 2016

Social service providers asking for more than $100 million, Our Quad Cities, May 5, 2016

Illinois service agencies sue Governor Rauner for $100M, WGN-TV, May 5, 2016

Illinois human-service groups sue governor over unpaid bills, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 5, 2016

State contractors sue Illinois for not paying, WBEZ, May 5, 2016

Illinois social service agencies' lawsuit claims state owes them $100M, WQAD8, May 4, 2016

Sauk Valley agencies among group suing governor for past-due payments, SaukValley.com, May 4, 2016

Sinnissippi Centers joins in lawsuit against governor over non-payment, WIXN News, May 4, 2016

Rauner, state agencies being sued, WIFR, May 4, 2016

Social service groups sue Ilinois over nonpayment, WSIU / Illinois Public Radio, May 4, 2016

Social service agencies sue the state, GLT50 / NPR from Illinois State University, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Illinois governor for $100M past due, Federal News Radio, May 4, 2016

Illinois social service agencies sue governor for $100M past due, WCBU / Peoria Public Radio, May 4, 2016

Lawsuit seeks contract payments from state, Advantage News, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Rauner for $100M past due, The Pantagraph, May 4, 2016

Illinois service agencies sue governor for $100M past due, The Southern Illinoisan, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Illinois governor for $100M past due, ABCNews Springfield, May 4, 2016

Social service providers sue Rauner for vetoing appropriations, demand state pay $100 million, Cook County Record, May 4, 2016

Illinois service agencies sue Rauner for $100M past due, State Journal-Register, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Rauner for $100M past due, Fox32 Chicago, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Illinois governor for $100M past due, ABC7 Chicago, May 4, 2016

Human, social services agencies suing Illinois over breach of contract, Progress Illinois, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Illinois governor for $100M past due, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 4, 2016

Local social-service agencies join coalition in suit against Rauner, state, Belleville News-Democrat, May 4, 2016

Social service groups sue Rauner over unpaid bills, Reuters, May 4, 2016

Lawsuit filed by unpaid social service providers, Capitol Fax, May 4, 2016

Coalition of social service agencies files lawsuit against governor, state agencies, WTTW / Chicago Tonight, May 4, 2016

64 service agencies sue Rauner for $100M past due, Associated Press, May 4, 2016

Illinois service agencies sue for $100 million past due, Crain's Chicago Business, May 4, 2016

Social service providers tell Rauner to pay up, Chicago Sun-Times, May 4, 2016

Social service groups sue Rauner over unpaid bills, Chicago Tribune, May 4, 2016

You've been served, Governor Bruce Rauner, Crain's Chicago Business OpEd, May 4, 2016