Morrison meets with new acting director of DCFS (VIDEO)

• DCFS
• Children
• Video
• Human Services

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) met with new Acting Director of the Department of Children and Family Services Beverly Walker this afternoon during a hearing of the Senate Human Services Committee.

“Today’s hearing gave members of the Senate the opportunity to learn about Director Walker’s background and her ideas for bringing lasting change to DCFS,” Morrison said. “As seen by today’s high level of interest from Senators on both sides of the aisle, the Senate is committed to working with Acting Director Walker to address the monumental challenges facing this troubled agency.”

On Friday, Walker was named acting director of DCFS by Governor Rauner. Earlier this month, former Director George Sheldon resigned amid a series of high-profile failures at the troubled state agency.

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Morrison supports property tax freeze proposals

• Property Taxes

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) issued the following statement today after voting in support of a pair of proposals that would institute a two-year property tax freeze for Illinois homeowners:

“Rising property taxes continue to be one of the biggest concerns facing suburban residents in my district. It is imperative we continue working on ways to reduce the financial burden being felt by too many homeowners.”

The proposals, contained in Senate Bills 482 and 484, passed the Senate with bipartisan support this afternoon and now head to the Illinois House for further debate.

Morrison plan expanding local government consolidation passes Senate

• Local Government
• Government Consolidation
• House Bill 607

SPRINGFIELD – Voters would be empowered to decide local government consolidation measures under a plan passed in the Senate yesterday and sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield).

“Illinois has the most units of local government of any state in the country,” Morrison said. “By empowering local voters, who know the needs of their communities, we are providing the opportunity to increase efficiencies and reduce costs to taxpayers.”

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Morrison to convene summer hearings in response to DCFS failures (VIDEO)

• DCFS
• Children
• Video

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) announced a series of summer hearings today in response to continued high-profile failures at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

"Recent reports of another child abuse investigation that ended in tragedy highlight that there is something terribly wrong going on in an agency whose sole mission is to protect kids,” Morrison said. “These hearings are not meant to place blame on any one person. But it is imperative we work to find out where this agency is failing. If we don’t look, we will never see.”

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