Quinn Urges End to Shutdown in Letter to Boehner

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says if the federal government shutdown continues, the state will have to lay off more workers whose paychecks come from federal funding.

Illinois has already issued nearly 100 such temporary layoffs. They include employees with the state Department of Military Fairs, economic analysts at the Illinois Department of Employment Security and employees with the Labor Department who handle workplace safety inspections.

Quinn sent U.S. House Speaker John Boehner a letter Monday, urging an end to the shutdown.

View Gov. Quinn's Letter

Quinn told reporters on Monday that whether you're a Republican or Democrat that it's a "severe blow" to the economy of Illinois.

"This dysfunction is bad for our state and our economy," Quinn said in the letter.

The last time there was a federal government shutdown in 1995, the state issued roughly 1,200 temporary layoffs. Everyone was eventually rehired.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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