SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — With Illinois battling a multibillion dollar backlog of unpaid bills, the two statewide office holders vying for the job of writing the state’s checks are sparring over whether the incumbent has been open enough about how she prioritizes who gets paid.

Democratic challenger Sheila Simon, the lieutenant governor, is trying to paint Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka as an old-style politician using clout to push various agencies to the head of the line. But Topinka says she has a better understanding of the intricacies of the office.