American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees v. Netsch

Plaintiffs appeal from an order of the trial court dismissing their suit in mandamus against the Comptroller. By that suit, plaintiffs sought to compel the Comptroller to issue paychecks to all State workers due to be paid on July 15, 1991. The trial court dismissed the complaint on the basis that there was no authority for such an order in the absence of an appropriation to pay the salaries of those State workers. We affirm.

Only the General Assembly is authorized by our constitution to make appropriations for all State expenditures of public funds. (Ill. Const. 1970, art. VIII, §2(b).) An…