Tom Morrison (politician)

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For the Guam politician, see Tommy Morrison (politician).
Tom Morrison
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 54th district
In office
January 12, 2011 (2011-January-12) – January 11, 2023
Preceded bySuzanne Bassi
Succeeded byMary Beth Canty
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Alma materHillsdale College

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.

Education and career

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]

  • Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licenses & Charter Committee (HELO)
  • Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee (HELM)
  • Energy & Environment Committee (HENG)
  • Insurance Committee (HINS)
  • Personnel & Pensions Committee (HPPN)

Positions and legislation

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]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas R. "Tom" Morrison 5,409 54.29
Republican Suzanne "Suzie" Bassi (incumbent) 4,554 45.71
Total votes 9,963 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2010[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas R. "Tom" Morrison 19,521 61.90
Democratic Matt Flamm 12,013 38.10
Total votes 31,534 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2012[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Morrison (incumbent) 27,123 59.08
Democratic Richard S. Rudd 18,786 40.92
Total votes 45,909 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2014[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Morrison (incumbent) 21,973 65.92
Democratic Laddi K. Singh 11,360 34.08
Total votes 33,333 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2016[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Morrison (incumbent) 38,846 100.0
Total votes 38,846 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2018[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Morrison (incumbent) 22,490 50.05
Democratic Maggie Trevor 22,447 49.95
Total votes 44,937 100.0
Illinois 54th State House District General Election, 2020[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Morrison (incumbent) 30,121 51.81
Democratic Maggie Trevor 28,017 48.19
Total votes 58,138 100.0

References

  1. ^ Tom Morrison's Biography Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Hamid, Sama. "Tom Morrison Archived 2017-03-18 at the Wayback Machine", NBC 5 Chicago, September 28, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Tom Morrison". LinkedIn. Archived from the original on 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  4. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  5. ^ "Thomas 'Tom' Morrison: Candidate profile, Illinois House 54th District". Daily Herald. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  6. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0354". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  7. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB2758". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  8. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0961". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  9. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HJRCA0034". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  10. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB2137". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  11. ^ The Editorial Board. "Editorial: For the Illinois House. Mazzochi, Breen, Curtis, Wheeler, Edly-Allen, McLaughlin, Morrison, Kegarise, Yost, Walsh". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  12. ^ Andrzejewski, Adam. "The 'Pension Palace' for Illinois Lawmakers 2017". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  13. ^ Klingner, Ted Dabrowski and John. "Yes, Illinois can eliminate legislative pensions". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  14. ^ Bauer, Elizabeth. "The Bottom Line: Illinois' Public Pension Debt Is A Moral Issue". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  15. ^ Ferguson, Hollie. "Rep. Morrison looks to steer Illinois pension system away from 'our tax-and-borrow policies'". North Cook News. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  16. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3303". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  17. ^ "Transgender Students in Illinois Are Under Attack". Equalityillinois.us. Archived from the original on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  18. ^ "Illinois Values Voters Forum: Rep. Joe Walsh, State Rep. Morrison, More". Publiusforum.com. December 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  20. ^ "STATE OF ILLINOIS ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY : HOUSE ROLL CALL : SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4" (PDF). Ilga.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Two Lawmakers Step Up to Defend Natural Marriage". Illinoisfamily.org. July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Illinois lawmaker introduces bill to punish doctors for providing health care to trans people". ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  23. ^ Smith, Gwendolyn (March 19, 2019). "Proposed Illinois law would make it illegal for doctors to treat transgender youth". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  25. ^ "NRA Grades Archive". 14 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Morrison To Be Honored During Blood Drive | Journal & Topics Media Group". Journal Online. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  27. ^ "Home - Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, IL". www.palatinechamber.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  28. ^ "Directory Alpha Search: s | Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce". Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  29. ^ "Board of Directors & Leadership | About WINGS". WINGS Program. 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  30. ^ Election Results: General Primary - 2/2/2010, Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  31. ^ Election Results: General Election - 11/2/2010, Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  32. ^ "Illinois State Board of Elections". Elections.il.gov.
  33. ^ [1] [dead link]
  34. ^ [2] [dead link]
  35. ^ "Thomas R. Morrison". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  36. ^ "Error Display".
  37. ^ "'It's time for me to take a pause': State Rep. Tom Morrison won't seek reelection". 11 January 2022.
  38. ^ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  39. ^ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  40. ^ "Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  43. ^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 31, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  44. ^ "Error Display".

External links

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