“Flying orange flags is a simple way to warn other boaters that you’re towing a water skier or inner tuber. Creating greater awareness could help save lives.” - State Senator Julie Morrison

SPRINGFIELD – After a series of hearings last year, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) found a water-safety plan everyone can agree on: requiring boats that are towing water-skiers, tubers and other people to fly orange flags.

Several other states, including Illinois’ neighboring state of Missouri, already have similar laws.

“Flying orange flags is a simple way to warn other boaters that you’re towing a water skier or inner tuber,” Morrison said. “Creating greater awareness could help save lives.”

State Senator Julie Morrison’s statement on the governor’s budget proposal:

“Clearly, the state of Illinois faces many challenges this year. I’m gravely concerned about the possibility that DCFS will lose funding for vital programs that serve thousands of children. I’m worried about programs for seniors and people with developmental disabilities.

Though I don’t necessarily agree with all of his proposals, it was good to see the governor acknowledge the difficulties that lie ahead of us. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues to craft a budget that preserves our highest priorities.”

SPRINGFIELD – At a budget hearing this morning, Illinois’ state agencies painted a bleak picture of state government’s future next year. The state is expecting a multi-billion dollar drop in revenue, resulting in across-the-board budget cuts of nearly 20%.

The Department of Children and Family Services, which stands to lose nearly $140 million, will need to eliminate housing, counseling, education and health programs for nearly 3,500 children.

“There are unfortunately thousands of abused and neglected children in our state. Cutting the funds to protect them will only put them back in harm’s way,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), who serves on one of the Senate budget committees and who chairs the Human Services Subcommittee on Special Issues Relating to DCFS. “The Department of Children and Family Services barely has the resources it needs to do its job now.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to make Illinois’ local governments more accountable, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is sponsoring legislation that would enable county boards to remove appointed officials who violate the public trust.

“If an appointed member of the Metra Board or any other important local board or commission can’t meet ethical standards, there needs to be a way to remove that person,” Morrison said.

Morrison’s legislation, introduced at the request of Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, allows the county boards of the collar counties to remove appointed officials by a 2/3rds majority vote. To initiate the process, the county board or county executive would have to find that the appointed official violated the county’s code of conduct, and the county board would have to hold a hearing.