State Senator Julie Morrison recently invited 30 organizations that provide services to seniors, people with disabilities and low-income children in the North Shore area to a meeting about the governor’s proposed cuts to human services programs and the impact of the state budget impasse.

She asked these local leaders to explain the likely outcome of the governor’s plans. Almost across the board, they responded that reduced funding will require them to lay off employees and reduce services.

They also noted that the administration has proposed other changes, such as increasing the threshold of a key eligibility test, that would result in greatly reduced services for children with autism, people with disabilities and others.

“On July 1, the over 1,200 adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Glenkirk and Search, Inc. will be faced with the elimination of vital services and supports,” said John Lipscomb, CEO of the Keystone Alliance. “It is imperative that the governor and legislature come together to solve this crisis as quickly as possible by passing a sustainable budget that invests in the community.”

A plan that should make it easier to open a business in Illinois has made it through the General Assembly. The legislation would require the state to put all permit and license applications online on one centralized website.

“It's ridiculous that the state has business licensing forms scattered across more than a half dozen websites,” said Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), the measure’s sponsor. “Some are still even paper-only. If we want to be competitive, we have to move into the 21st century.”

Right now, business owners who need more than one license or permit normally have to visit several different state and local government websites and fill out forms both on paper and online. To see if they qualify for any economic development programs, they have to contact even more state agencies.

Many other states do better, putting all of these forms and all of this information in one place.

A plan to prevent future governors from engaging in last-minute patronage has cleared the Illinois General Assembly.

State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) introduced the proposal after former Gov. Pat Quinn appointed a political operative to a $160,000-per-year state job at the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority a month after he lost his election last year.

Her plan would affect any director appointed to a governor-controlled board or commission after the governor loses an election. They would be limited to 60 days in the position, allowing the newly elected governor to find the best person for the position. Morrison’s legislation extends beyond the ISFA to include similar government organizations.

“The people don’t trust Illinois government specifically because situations like this happen all the time,” Morrison said. “We shouldn’t need this law. Simple morality should be enough to prevent these stunts. But because Illinois governors can’t seem to stop misusing taxpayer money, we do.”

The Illinois Sports Finance Authority – a government entity – owns U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox, and provided the majority of the financing for the renovation of the Bears’ Soldier Field. It receives subsidies from the state and the city of Chicago, income from the White Sox rental agreement, and revenue from a 2 percent tax on all hotel rentals in Chicago.

Morrison’s legislation, House Bill 4078, now goes to Governor Bruce Rauner for his review.