By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
In his first months on the job, Gov. Bruce Rauner presided over a ceremony to name the Illinois State Museum building for the late U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon, and he’s also proposed closing the museum. A “facility closure hearing” convened by a legislative panel drew a roomful to the Capitol Monday.
The museum – which specializes in the natural history of Illinois and whose main building is near the Capitol — has satellite facilities in such places as Lockport and Lewistown, also targeted.
The recommendation of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, yet to be issued, will be non-binding.
One state office has finished processing payroll while another is trying to speed up the court schedule on whether state workers can be paid during the budget impasse.
In other state news, the comptroller’s office says paychecks will go out as scheduled today. Spokesman Rich Carter says only about 6,800 of the 65,000 total state workers were set to be paid today.
Carter says the office will continue processing payroll as usual, unless a court orders otherwise.
Such a ruling may be coming from the Illinois Supreme Court. The attorney general’s office filed an emergency motion for a direct appeal to settle whether state workers can continue being paid while there’s no budget in place.
