Thomas R. Morrison[1] was a Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly for 54th House district,which includes all or portions of Palatine,Rolling Meadows,Inverness,Hoffman Estates,Arlington Heights,Barrington,and Schaumburg.
Morrison is a graduate of Hillsdale College where he received a B.A. in History and Communications. Out of college he was a radio news reporter and anchor[2] before beginning a career as a fifth grade teacher. He has experience as a small business owner,having owned and operated two ServPro franchises,Palatine/Rolling Meadows and Elk Grove/Itasca/Roselle,for six years.[3]
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2010.
As of July 3,2022,Representative Morrison is a member of the following Illinois House committees:[4]
Rep. Morrison is a proponent of reducing the overall tax burden on Illinois residents[5] and reigning in property taxes.[6][7][8] He filed legislation to require a two-thirds majority vote for all tax increases [9] which would push the General Assembly toward spending reforms before increased taxation. He is a co-sponsor of the No Funds Without Revenue Estimate bill,[10] designed to help the legislature pass a balanced budget.
Morrison is a proponent of pension reform.[11] He sponsored legislation to end Illinois taxpayer-funded legislative pensions.[12] Morrison was the first Illinois State Representative to turn down the legislative pension benefit,saying,“If I had remained in the system,I would have been seen as part of the problem. I had to opt out.”[13] He has been outspoken about the multi-billion dollar pension liability on taxpayers and on the General Assembly's failure to meaningfully address the problem faced by both public workers and taxpayers.[14][15] Morrison's plan would lock in earned pension benefits and move employees to a defined contribution plan on a go-forward basis.[16]
Rep. Morrison is known as a hardliner on social issues. In 2016,he authored legislation denying young transgender children access to the restroom of their identity.[17] He opposes abortion in all circumstances,including rape and incest,[18] voted No on an equal pay bill,[19] and also voted no on the ERA.[20] Previously,he attempted to Constitutionally ban same-sex marriage in Illinois.[21] Upon being re-elected in 2018,Rep. Morrison authored legislation to punish doctors for providing transition healthcare to transgender children experiencing gender dysphoria. This legislation was condemned by Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago[22][23] Rep. Morrison has an A rating from the NRA.[24][25]
Community Involvement
Rep. Morrison was named the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers 2020 Legislator of the Year for his work in hosting multiple blood drives.[26] He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 690. He is a member of the Palatine Chamber of Commerce[27] and Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce.[28] He serves on the Leadership Council of WINGS Program domestic violence agency.[29]
Electoral history
Morrison defeated incumbent State Representative Suzanne Bassi in the Republican primary on February 2,2010,receiving 54.3% of the vote,to Bassi's 45.7%.[30] Morrison went on to defeat Democrat Matt Flamm in the general election,receiving 61.9% of the vote,to Flamm's 38.1%.[31] Morrison defeated Richard Rudd in 2012 with 59.08% of the vote.[32] He won the 2014 election against Laddi Singh with 65.92% of the vote,[33] and in 2016,he ran unopposed. In 2018,he defeated Maggie Trevor by only 43 votes,receiving 50.05% of votes cast.[34][35] In 2020,he defeated Maggie Trevor,receiving 51.81% of votes cast.[36]
On January 11,2022,Morrison announced he will not be running for re-election in 2022.[37]
Illinois 54th State House District Republican Primary,2010[38]
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