Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner to take a more active role in paying down the state’s unpaid bills.
Illinois's new budget authorizes the state to issue bonds to begin paying down its debts, but that process has to start with Rauner’s budget office.
Mendoza, a Democrat, basically said the Republican administration is dragging its feet.
“Every day that goes by without the capital from the new bonds being issued is costing taxpayers an additional $2 million a day," she said.
This resulted in a back-and-forth between the offices. Through a spokeswoman, Rauner said there are things Mendoza should be doing on her own — moving money around state accounts.
But Mendoza's office says she's already doing that, and Rauner should get going.
Meanwhile, Illinois still owes vendors nearly $14.5 billion.