May 03
Springfield… A bill creating the Illinois Sunshine Commission passed through the state legislature recently, and now moves its way to the governor’s desk. The bill, co-sponsored by State Representative Jim Watson (R Jacksonville), will create a committee of legislators and citizens with the purpose of identifying wasteful programs.
“I’m proud that progress can be made during these times of contentious debate over our budget,” Watson said.
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May 03
Springfield… Representative Jim Watson and House Republicans voted unanimously against SJRCA0121, an amendment further securing majority party control of the redistricting process. In a heated debate, Watson pressed Democratic Majority Leader Representative Barbara Flynn Currie for an explanation of the bill’s language.
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Apr 23
Springfield… The $13 billion budget deficit hasn’t stopped state officials from flying back and forth to Chicago on the state’s executive aircraft at a cost of $3,000 per hour.
State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville) is backing legislation to sell the state fleet of executive aircraft. Watson is chief co-sponsor of House Bill 4800, which would sell three executive aircraft and two helicopters owned by the State that are not designated for emergency use.
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Mar 29
Update on current legislative session
Town Hall Meeting
State Representative
Jim Watson
Tuesday April 6, 2010
6:30 PM
Hamilton’s 110 N. East
Jacksonville
Mar 25
Springfield… Representative Jim Watson is joined by House Minority Leader Tom Cross, former Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski, and other Republican lawmakers in calling for a detailed, forensic audit of the Illinois’ budget from the past several years.
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Mar 16
Over the last decade Illinois has experienced remarkable growth; unfortunately it is not the type of growth that promotes prosperity: General Revenue Fund spending has grown by $10 billion, the state’s unfunded pension liability has almost tripled, our Medicaid liability has doubled and our unpaid bills total $5 billion.
How did we get here?
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Mar 11
Springfield… Governor Pat Quinn’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal relies too heavily on borrowing and debt and does little to reform the state’s out-of-control spending, according to State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville).
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Feb 26
Springfield… Legislation sponsored by State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville) to protect the fund that pays for health insurance for the Women’s Crisis Center in Jacksonville has been passed by the Illinois House of Representatives.
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