* Legislators haven’t been paid since late March because Comptroller Leslie Munger decided to throw their paychecks into the pile of unpaid bills along with everyone else. It was, she said, a way of showing lawmakers how their inaction on a state budget was impacting social service providers, many of which were struggling to keep their doors open.

Legislators will likely receive their April paychecks next week because the state payments for bills from the end of April will also be going out the door.

Munger’s chief of staff just told me that the office will now look at the just-passed stopgap budget package and “reassess” Munger’s decision. He said they’ll be looking at upcoming payment delays and “who’s going to be waiting when,” with a particular emphasis on social service providers. If they think they’ll be able to catch up, then Munger could release the hold on paychecks.

* This has been a huge topic of discussion for legislators who don’t have outside jobs, independent wealth and/or employed spouses.

Sen. Kimberly Lightford spoke out today on the Senate floor, saying legislators are not vendors, they’re employees of the Senate and House. All other state employees are being paid by court order, of course…

Lightford: "as legislators we should get paid for the work that we do," it's "wrong for our income to be held for months."

— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) June 30, 2016

*** UPDATE ***  Video of Sen. Lightford’s remarks…