Quinn pleased court will hear appeal on lawmaker pay

Gov. Pat Quinn says he’s pleased the Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear his appeal of a ruling that found his veto of lawmakers’ pay unconstitutional.

The court issued its one-page order Wednesday. A hearing date has not been set.

Quinn halted lawmakers’ salaries in July. He said they shouldn’t get paid until they addressed Illinois’ nearly $100 billion pension crisis.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton then sued, arguing Quinn didn’t have the authority to halt lawmaker paychecks.

A Cook County judge in September ordered that legislators be paid immediately.

Quinn appealed directly to the state’s high court, saying his move was allowed through the state constitution.

Quinn’s spokeswoman says the governor will continue to not accept his own paycheck until pension reform is achieved.