A perhaps unlikely champion has emerged to reverse state social service cuts: Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican. The State Journal-Register reports that Topinka is travelling across the state to visit social service organizations on a tour she dubs "Illinois Has Heart."

Topinka would like to see state legislators undo some cuts. She claims such advocacy is not outside her jurisdiction as comptroller. In fact, Topinka said that she might accelerate the issuance of some checks so as to help struggling social service agencies.