Tom Morrison (politician)

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.

Rep. Morrison is a proponent of reducing the overall tax burden on Illinois residents[4] and reigning in property taxes.[5][6][7] He filed legislation to require a two-thirds majority vote for all tax increases [8] 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,[9] designed to help the legislature pass a balanced budget.

Morrison is a proponent of pension reform.[10] He sponsored legislation to end Illinois taxpayer-funded legislative pensions.[11] 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.”[12] 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.[13][14] Morrison's plan would lock in earned pension benefits and move employees to a defined contribution plan on a go-forward basis.[15]

Morrison is co-sponsoring equal pay legislation with State Rep. Margo McDermed.[16] He supports policy that will promote equal pay for women, job opportunities, and small business growth.

Morrison is known as a conservative on social issues. He is pro-life and supports existing law which provides that parents be notified when a minor obtains an abortion.[17] He joined several Democratic and Republican women colleagues who voted against removing all restrictions on abortion through the ninth month[18] and taxpayer funding for abortion.[19] He also joined female colleagues in bi-partisan opposition to the ERA.[20] He has supported legislation to create a domestic violence task force[21] and has worked to pass the Track Sexual Assault Evidence bill, now a public act.[22]

Rep. Morrison was named the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers 2020 Legislator of the Year for his work in hosting multiple blood drives.[23] He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 690. He is a member of the Palatine Chamber of Commerce[24] and Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce.[25] He serves on the Leadership Council of WINGS Program domestic violence agency.[26]

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%.[27] Morrison went on to defeat Democrat Matt Flamm in the general election, receiving 61.9% of the vote, to Flamm's 38.1%.[28] Morrison defeated Richard Rudd in 2012 with 59.08% of the vote.[29] He won the 2014 election against Laddi Singh with 65.92% of the vote,[30] and in 2016, he ran unopposed. In 2018, he defeated Maggie Trevor by only 43 votes, receiving 50.05% of votes cast.[31][32]

• Representative Thomas Morrison (R) 54th District at the Illinois General Assembly
  • By session: 98th, 97th
• State Representative Thomas Morrison constituency site
• Thomas Morrison for State Representative
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Profile at OpenStates.org
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org archives
• Profile at Ballotpedia.