Illinois House lawmakers are approving backpay owed to thousands of state workers. The raises were due to employees as far back as 2011 under their union contract. But, the money was never appropriated by the legislature. State Representative Jerry Costello says it’s time to change that.
The raises have been upheld in court and about half the workers were paid in 2014. The Illinois House has now passed a bill funding the increase for the rest of the employees at a cost of 63 million dollars. It now goes to the Illinois Senate.