Social services back Senate bill on bonds sales

Leaders of Illinois' social services agencies are urging lawmakers to pass a Senate measure that would allow the state to sell billions of dollars in bonds to help catch up on a backlog of unpaid bills.

At a news conference Wednesday, they said the recently passed income tax increase was needed but it'll take time for the state to collect that money.

The leaders say selling bonds would generate more than $8 billion that could be used to catch up on missed payments until the state can collect on the tax increase.

George Jones is executive director of Ada S. McKinley Community Services in Chicago, which provides child care and education services. He says the state still owes his agency $6 million.

State Sen. Donne Trotter says he thinks the proposal has a good chance of passing.