Morrison Achieves Personal Success in Senate

Though state Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) grew frustrated at the lack of progress on major issue facing the Illinois General Assembly during her first legislative session, she scored an individual success with a deep personal attachment.

Morrison was unhappy with the inability of the legislature to pass a pension reform bill and voted against the new conceal carry law because the National Rifle Association (NRA) tried to gut the ability of home rule communities like Deerfield, Highland Park and Lake Forest.

Yet when it came to introducing and passing legislation which will have an effect on the lives of others, she was proud of the drunken boating law she shepherded through the legislature to Gov. Patrick Quinn’s desk.

The new law attaches penalties for operating a motorized boat to a person’s driver’s license. “Your driver’s license can be suspended if you operate a motorized boat drunk,” Morrison said. “If you refuse (tests for intoxication) your license will be suspended.”

Morrison, who took her seat in the State Senate in January, has a close personal connection to what can happen when an intoxicated person drives a motor boat. Her 10-year old nephew, Tony Borcia of Libertyville, was killed July 28 when hit by a boat in the Chain of Lakes while floating in a tube.

“I did this so we can prevent this from happening to other families,” Morrison said. The person operating the boat has since pled guilty. His sentencing hearing begins at 9 a.m. Thursday in Lake County Criminal Court in Waukegan.

Frustration may be the best word to describe Morrison’s feelings about the failure of the legislature to pass pension reform. She saw the wisdom of plans pushed forward by both House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton.

“It was a huge disappointment,” Morrison said. “To come home without a bill is a failure. Financially it (the House version) was the right one. The one we passed was constitutional. We had two different priorities.”

While the Senate had the opportunity to vote on the House bill—and turn it down—the lower chamber never had the chance to vote on the Senate’s legislation. “There are members (of the House) who would have voted for it,” Morrison said.

Though the state remains in a difficult financial condition, Morrison felt the budget the General Assembly passed was a move in the right direction. It is not only balanced but the forecast is based on actual and accurate numbers.

“The budget restored a lot of money to education,” Morrison said. “We approved money that we forecast to be actual expenses. This is really important.”

Another thing important to Morrison is hearing from constituents while she keeps full time hour in her Deerfield office while the Senate is not in session. She puts more stock in their stories than what she hears from lobbyists in Springfield.

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