Lawmakers and Governor Bruce Rauner have signed in Senate Bill 2039 to appropriate funding to a variety of entities, including local government and veteran’s homes.
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Some Illinois Lottery winners experienced payment delays after July 1, as the state lottery has not had the legal authority to disburse winnings due to the budget impasse in Springfield.
Lottery officials, who had stopped paying out prizes larger than $600, will start paying winners in the order their claims were received.
It also gives the Lottery money to pay winners, and funds energy assistance the poor via “LIHEAP” (Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program).
Democratic Senator Tom Cullerton introduced the plan authorizing several billion dollars in spending.
The Lottery expects the processing of new claims to begin next week.
The state senate has followed the House, approving $3.1 billion to be released to local communities. He emphasized public-safety measures such as road salt for the coming winter.
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“What you see with this bill is, frankly evidence that the governor can reach across the aisle and that you can reach back and we can all get on the same page and do things together for the general good of the people we all represent”, said Rauner. Most of the funding included in the legislation is either federal, or comes from special state funds that are meant to fund specific programs.
