An arbitrator has ordered Gov. Pat Quinn to cancel his plan to lay off state employees and close several prisons and mental facilities.
Arbitrator Edwin Benn ruled Monday that Quinn's plan would violate his agreement with a major union. The Democratic governor signed a deal last year that promised no layoffs or closures if the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees agreed to various cost-cutting measures.
Quinn says that lawmakers haven't given him enough money to run state government and he is now forced to make cuts.
But the arbitrator says that doesn't make any difference. Benn says the state's agreement isn't canceled because it now claims financial problems.
Quinn is likely to appeal. He is already fighting a similar ruling over canceling union raises.
