SPRINGFIELD – An arbitrator ordered Gov. Pat Quinn to halt his plan to lay off state employees and close several prisons and mental facilities, ruling Monday that the governor cannot violate a no-layoff agreement he signed last year with a major union.

Quinn's office quickly said it would fight the ruling in court. The Democratic governor says lawmakers haven't given him enough money to operate state government without making major cuts.

"You can't spend money you don't have," spokeswoman Brie Callahan said in a statement.