Chicago, IL — Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that the state of Illinois is not in compliance with consent decrees to pay Medicaid providers and must work with providers to be in compliance by the end of the month. This decision comes as additional consent decrees and court orders are mandating spending at levels exceeding current state revenue. In response, JB Pritzker released the following statement:

“Bruce Rauner is the governor of this state and the courts should not have to do his job for him,” said JB Pritzker. “It is Bruce Rauner’s constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget, but for the past three years he has consistently refused to do so. As Rauner holds this state hostage, the backlog of bills continues to grow and the fiscal crisis deepens. Courts are left with no choice but to pick winners and losers of state resources. In reality, all Illinoisans are losing under our failed governor. This is a manufactured crisis and the people of Illinois deserve so much better. It is time for a governor with courage, who will sit at the negotiating table, bring people together, and get our state a balanced budget.”

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