Comptroller seeks Agreed Order from AG to continue paying employees

CHICAGO - Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on Thursday outlined her plan for paying the state's bills during the budget impasse as she entered the new fiscal year without appropriation authority.

In an effort to comply with federal labor laws, Munger is asking the Attorney General's Office to seek an Agreed Order from the courts that would allow the Comptroller's Office to continue paying state employees during the impasse. The Attorney General entered a similar Agreed Order on behalf of Comptroller Dan Hynes in 2007 that allowed state employees to be paid when the state entered the new fiscal year without a budget agreement.

"The contribution of state employees to maintaining public services and public order is beyond dispute," Munger said. "Allowing these employees to be paid on time and at the correct rate of pay until the budget impasse is resolved will also promote the legitimate goals of government to maintain critical services."

In addition, Munger announced that due to legislation passed by the General Assembly last year that made state legislative and judicial salaries "continuing appropriations," state legislators and judges are the only state employees who will continue to be paid during the budget impasse, unless the court acts.

The Comptroller will be able to continue making payments authorized under the previous fiscal year that ended June 30. She will also be able to make new payments classified as "continuing appropriations" and under court orders, including the following payments: debt, pension, retiree benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Assistance for the Aged, Blind and Disabled, and most local government payments.

However, when the FY15 bills are paid, she will not have appropriation authority to pay most new bills incurred in the new fiscal year after July 1. Ramifications include :

• Nonprofits and small employers will be unable to receive expedited payments
• State employees will start missing paychecks July 15
• New payments to state vendors will stop

Munger stressed the Comptroller's Office will continue to operate without interruption throughout the budget impasse to process all payments allowed under law. Her office has established a Budget Hotline - 855-IL-ASK-US - and she encouraged state vendors to call it with questions about their payments.

"This is not a game. This budget impasse has serious consequences for families, organizations and businesses across our state. It is time for lawmakers and the Governor to find common ground and enact a balanced budget. In the meantime, my office will continue to provide whatever resources are necessary to get the job done," Munger said.

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Eligible conservation coalitions nationwide have about a week to submit pre-proposals to improve soil heath, preserve clean water, combat drought and protect wildlife habitat. The deadline is July 8th.

For more information see: http://blogs.usda.gov/2015/07/02/conservation-program-pre-proposals-due-july-8/

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the key government agencies involved for a full accounting of their actions to approve a controversial uranium deal, despite disapproval of similar foreign takeovers and amid potential conflicts of interest concerns over millions of dollars in financial donations to the family foundation linked to one of the designated decision-making agencies, the State Department under then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"When millions of dollars flow to decision makers who have substantial discretion to provide support for or against approval of controversial transactions, public confidence in the integrity of the process requires a commitment to transparency and responsiveness to oversight inquiries," Grassley wrote to the agencies.

Grassley is seeking details behind the acquisition of U.S.-based uranium assets by a Russian government-owned company.  Such acquisitions are reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), whose membership includes the secretary of State and of which the Treasury secretary is the chair.   The purpose of such reviews is to ensure that national security is not undermined by transactions that result in control of U.S.-based assets, such as uranium, by a foreign entity.  CFIUS approved the uranium deal, despite having denied similar controversial transactions.

While Hillary Clinton was secretary of State and during critical stages of the uranium deal and CFIUS review process, the Clinton Foundation accepted multiple donations of millions of dollars from parties with an interest in the uranium deal, according to media reports.

"It's unclear what led CFIUS to approve the uranium company transaction and whether the conflicts of interest involving the secretary of State and her family foundation were disclosed and vetted at the time," Grassley said.

Grassley asked a series of detailed questions about these concerns to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and Jose W. Fernandez, the State Department designee to CFIUS during Clinton's tenure.

Grassley's letters are available here, here, here and here.

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QUAD-CITIES–Xstream Cleanup, presented by Group O and Riverboat Development Authority, is seeking hundreds of volunteers to clean up about 35 sites in the Quad-Cities area on Saturday, August 8 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Cleanup sites are located in Bettendorf, Davenport and LeClaire, Iowa; and Hampton, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis, Illinois.

Volunteers can choose to participate in light-duty cleanup, heavy-duty cleanup, or removal of invasive plants and other vegetation. Removal of invasive plants continues to be an important part of the cleanup because these harmful species negatively affect water quality in the Quad-Cities and beyond.

No previous cleanup experience is necessary, and supplies will be provided. A parent or guardian must accompany volunteers under the age of 18.

In an effort to reduce waste from the event, cases of bottled water will not be provided at cleanup sites this year. Volunteers will receive a reusable, BPA-free water bottle as a token of gratitude for their efforts. Event-themed T-shirts will not be given away as in previous years.

Xstream Cleanup is made possible by generous support provided by the following: Group O, Riverboat Development Authority, Alcoa, Triumph Community Bank, Iowa American Water, Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency, Alter Metal Recycling, DHL Global Forwarding, McCarthy Bush Corporation, MidAmerican Energy, Quad City Conservation Alliance, Sears Seating, Wallace's Garden Center, Radish Magazine, and Midas Auto Systems Experts.