The Nation - News from July 7, 1985

More than 94,000 welfare checks held “hostage” in Illinois by political bickering over public works and public aid budgets were distributed during the weekend, officials said. The checks were ordered sent out after lawmakers called a temporary truce in their battle over the $1.7-billion public works programs and the $3.4-billion public aid budget. House Republicans refused to endorse the public aid budget unless the public works program was approved first. But many Democrats opposed the “Build Illinois” public works list, saying they did not trust GOP Gov. James R. Thompson to cut a ballooned list of projects down to its original $1.3-billion level. Thompson interceded and the “hostage” checks were released.