State Rep. Tom Morrison | Contributed photo
State Rep. Tom Morrison | Contributed photo
Veteran state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is one of four GOP lawmakers recently appointed to the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission entrusted with monitoring the budget actions of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, including overseeing the distribution of federal relief funds related to COVID-19.
Morrison was tabbed for the commission by House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), joining fellow Republican state representatives Tom Demmer of Dixon, Norine Hammond of Macomb and Ryan Spain of Peoria.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a tough financial reality for the state and Illinois residents,” Morrison said. “Now is the time to bring greater responsibility and transparency to our budgeting process, starting with the distribution and expenditure of any federal financial relief funds. While I didn’t vote for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget due to its reliance on federal borrowing, I do believe this commission is necessary to provide oversight on how the governor spends these unprecedented levels of federal financial support.”
From the outset of the deadly virus, the House Republican Caucus has pushed for increased input in the handling of the crisis. Starting early next month, the governor’s office will be obligated to submit a monthly written report to the commission detailing actions related to the budget.
In total, the commission consists of seven members of the House appointed by House Speaker Mike Madigan; seven members of the Senate appointed by Senate President Don Harmon; four members of the House appointed by Durkin and four members of the Senate appointed by Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady.
Morrison has long been a vocal critic of the governor’s one-size-fits-all handling of the virus.
“Nobody does or should blame him for the [COVID-19] virus or the terrible ways it can, has and will continue to injure or kill, but his broad executive decisions have much farther-reaching effects than he perhaps realizes," he told the North Cook News. “The governor needs to remember that he’s the governor for all the people of Illinois.”
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