A Cook County Judge has ruled that Gov. Pat Quinn's line-item veto of state lawmaker pay is unconstitutional. The judge says the state must begin paying lawmakers their monthly salaries, and will have to pay interest on the last two months of pay that have been withheld. 

Quinn issued a line-item veto in July halting state lawmakers' pay until they introduced a passable pension reform bill. The governor also put his own pay on hold until such a bill was introduced. In late July, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton filed a suit against the governor, arguing that the move was a breach of the separation of the legislative and executive branches.  

Earlier this week, Judge Neil Cohen said he was putting off judgement, which is expected today, until no later than October 3.