HR0134 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0134 LRB096 11670 KXB 22296 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate and thank our longtime friend and colleague, Illinois State Senator Frank Watson, on his retirement from the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Frank Watson’s political career began when he was elected to the office of Bond County Central Township supervisor and trustee; in 1979 he was elected to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives and served until 1983, when he was elected the 55th District Senator; he served the 55th district from 1983 through 2003 when legislative redistricting gave him a new district territory, the 51st District, and he was elected to served that district; he served as the Assistant Majority Leader from 1993 to 2002 and Senate Republican leader from 2003 until late in 2008; and

WHEREAS, As a State legislator, Frank Watson championed economic development issues that helped bring new businesses to Illinois and to help other businesses expand; he was the sponsor of the EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) program; EDGE provides tax credits that allow a company to reduce the costs of doing business in Illinois, which levels the field between Illinois and surrounding states that were offering various tax breaks that put Illinois at a disadvantage; and

WHEREAS, Another major accomplishment that could have a long-lasting impact on Illinois is his work to promote Illinois coal; he sponsored legislation to help coal companies keep operating, and for industry incentives to encourage more energy generating capacity, using the rich coal reserves in southern Illinois; he recently co-sponsored legislation for the $2.5 billion coal-to-energy Tenaska facility near Taylorville, and fought behind the scenes to help clear hurdles so the bill could be signed into law; the plant is expected to create about 1,500 temporary construction jobs and 200 permanent plant jobs, and provide opportunities for hundreds of coal mining jobs around the State; and

WHEREAS, He has sponsored school reform measures to improve the quality of public education in the State; he has led the way for more funding for public education; and he has sponsored college tuition programs; and

WHEREAS, Senator Watson is a graduate of Purdue University, majoring in Pharmacology; he is a registered pharmacist and was the owner of Watson's Drug Store in Greenville until recently; Senator Watson was at the forefront on the issue of affordable prescription drugs; another priority was a quality transportation system critical for future development and job creation; he used his position on the Senate Transportation Committee to fight for those projects, and was especially a strong advocate for the U.S. Route 51 expansion and improvements; and

WHEREAS, Senator Watson teamed with local officials to lead the fight to thwart the attempted closure of the Vandalia Correctional Center; he helped organize the opposition, lobbied fellow senators and took on the governor to keep the prison operating; and

WHEREAS, Senator Watson is a member of the Greenville Jaycees; he is a member of the Greenville, O'Fallon, Salem, Decatur, Mt. Zion, Sullivan, and Centralia Chambers of Commerce; and he is a member of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association; and

WHEREAS, Frank Watson and his wife, Susan, reside in Greenville; they have two adult children and one grandchild; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Senator Frank Watson on his retirement and wish him nothing but the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to former Illinois Senator Frank Watson as a symbol of our sincere respect and admiration.