Charlie Meier
Charlie Meier

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A lawmaker is dismissing a $400,000 state-funded study of Illinois’ treatment of the developmentally disabled because he says a lead researcher is biased.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the study by the University of Illinois at Chicago found overwhelming support for the closure of the Jacksonville Developmental Center by family members of former residents.

The state wants to close the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia. Okawville Republican Rep. Charlie Meier opposes that closure.

He questioned the UIC study because lead researcher Amie Lulinski also sits on the board of Arc of Illinois — which supports closing Murray.

Arc announced in June that Lulinksi is joining the organization’s national policy team.

Tony Paulauski of Arc of Illinois says the research and its findings are solid.

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