(Springfield, IL) — A plan to pay Illinois state employees is a step closer to becoming a reality. But it’s still a long way from being a done deal. A House panel yesterday approved a plan from Decatur State Rep. Sue Scherer to keep state employee paychecks flowing. But Scherer’s plan doesn’t include enough money to cover the state’s payroll. Illinois’ Attorney General is asking a judge to stop state worker paychecks at the end of the month because Illinois doesn’t have a budget.