Sangamon Sun

Stating that the “Chicagoland 6” should just do their jobs, a regional publication has issued a definitive stance on the half-dozen legislators who recently sued the former state comptroller over delayed legislator-paycheck issues.

“After all, those lawmakers are part of the problem,"  the editorial board of the Sauk Valley Media said.  "It’s the Illinois General Assembly’s responsibility to approve a budget that the governor is willing to sign.”

The litigants -- state Reps. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside), Kate Cloonen (D-Kankakee), Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) and Silvana Tabares (D-Chicago) — made headlines recently by filing a lawsuit against then-state Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on her last day in office.

From its hub in Sterling, Sauk Valley Media recently lambasted the six legislators for their action, reasoning that they should focus on working toward a budget deal instead, which would restart the regular paycheck cycle.

“It’s hard to have much sympathy for six Chicago-area Democratic state representatives who sued the Illinois Comptroller’s Office Dec. 2 for back pay that’s been held up since August by Illinois’ protracted budget mess,” the editorial board said.

Not a peep has been heard from these Democrats trying to push for a budget resolution.

“We haven’t heard them challenging Democratic legislative leaders, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), to soften their stances on making a budget deal with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner,” the board said.

The fact that elected legislative positions are largely perceived as full-time even though they meet for only about half the year also complicates the issue, as does new Comptroller Susana Mendoza vowing to stand by Munger’s policy unless a court order is issued.

“Lawmakers who want to get paid should do their jobs,” the editorial board said. “Approving a budget deal is Job 1.”