Illinois borrowed $4.2 billion from the federal government to replenish its unemployment trust fund, missed the deadline to repay it and now wants to avoid the interest that is due.

Even with 32 percent tax hike, Illinois State Comptroller expects only $5 billion of the state’s unpaid bills to be paid down.

Rank-and-file lawmakers have received paychecks of more than $50,800.

State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, filed legislation March 23 that would give the Illinois Comptroller’s office discretion to delay payments to lawmakers if insufficient funding exists to do so. This came just hours after a Cook County judge said lawmakers must be paid.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is suspending funding for a technology initiative Gov. Bruce Rauner has said would save taxpayer money and promote efficiency, data security and transparency in state government.

Attempts to cut off state worker pay need not end in a tax hike.