SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich is blaming the federal government for the need to lay off 17 state employees who are veterans, but some lawmakers say the governor should have done more before they lost their jobs.

Twenty people, including 17 veterans were laid off Oct. 31 from security jobs at various Illinois National Guard facilities across the state, including at Decatur Airport. Security duties were assigned to Securitas, a private company founded in Sweden.

Over Veterans Day weekend, Blagojevich directed blame toward the federal government for cutting $1.1 million in funding.

"It's an outrage that at a time when we are working to support our veterans and make their lives better, the federal government would change the rules and cut funding to make it harder for veterans to work," he said.

But as most state employees enjoyed a day off Monday, some state lawmakers from both parties pointed blame back at the governor.

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mt. Zion, said Blagojevich should have been more outspoken in taking on the federal government before the employees were laid off, not more than a week after.

"I think he should have said: 'I'm going to fight the government,' " he said.

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, said he wondered why Blagojevich, who cut hundreds of millions from the state budget in an attempt to fund health care programs couldn't have found more.

"Gov. Blagojevich certainly found $500 million pretty quickly for a healthcare program," he said.

A Department of Military Affairs spokeswoman said that of the people laid off, 12 had taken other jobs within state government and three retired. Others are either on disability or still awaiting a resolution.