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Rep. Watson Wraps Up Tennessee Legislature


Submitted by WDEF on June 18, 2007 - 3:58pm. News | Government
Rep. Eric Watson

This is an e-mail from State Rep. Eric Watson (R- Bradley County) wrapping up the recently concluded legislative session in Tennessee.


2007 Legislative Session

A Commitment to the Citizens of Tennessee

Last fall, Myself and other Republicans pledged in our Tennessee Trust that we would fight for immigration reform, tax relief, and legislation to uphold Tennessee's values. That pledge was further extended this year by legislative initiatives adopted by the Caucus on various other measures, including the Caucus stand to fully support comprehensive legislation to crack down on child sex offenders, including a Tennessee Jessica's Law. This is in addition to numerous other issues, from strong anti-crime legislation to education reforms. This is an update on these efforts.

Immigration Reform

There were many bills brought to our legislature this year dealing with the issue of illegal immigration reform. Every state is a border state and every town, a border town. We cannot ignore the fact that immigration is not just a national problem when so many policy decisions effecting the issue are made at the state level, like proof of citizenship before voting, or proof of legal residency before a driver's license can be issued, or requirements that only citizens should be able to receive public benefits. Most other states, like our neighbor Georgia, have made great strides in policy reform on these matters.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) / HB 491 / PC 165

Certainly, one of the most significant bills passed this year on this matter is House Bill 491 that would require the Department of Safety to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with federal authorities to train certain highway patrol officers to perform certain immigration law enforcement functions, and would authorize the Tennessee Highway Patrol to become certified to enforce federal immigration laws. Similarly, a separate bill makes sure that municipal and county governing bodies can enter into MOUs for their law enforcmement agencies upon approval by local governing bodies.

With an estimated 8 to 11 million illegal aliens residing in the U.S., it is essential that we are in cooperation with the federal government to work together to enforce our immigration laws. The thousands of state and local law enforcement officers nationwide are potentially powerful allies in the fight against terrorism, but their potential is being wasted when we don't allow them to work together.

Proof of legal residency for driver's license / HB 1827 / PC 194

The General Assembly has passed legislation requiring proof of legal residency before issuance of a Tennessee driver's license, after many years of efforts to approve this immigration law reform measure. Tennessee's state policy on driver's license has made it easier for illegal aliens to live in our communities and provide this identification generally regarded as state-sanctioned.

It is important to remember that a license to drive is a privilege, not a right. We must also remember that 19 people used state-issued driver's licenses to board four airplanes and turn them into weapons of mass destruction so that we put into place appropriate safeguards to guard against potential acts of terrorism. This bill responds to all of these concerns and will hopefully make sure some of the problems Tennessee has experienced with its liberal policies on issuance of driver's license will end.

Immigration reforms that did not pass -- On the other hand, legislation to require Tennessee's driver's license test be taken in English only was defeated twice this session, once in a House Subcommittee and the second time on the floor as an amendment to a separate bill. Two other reform measures, one calling for proof of citizenship before registering to vote and the other to make sure only legal residents receive public benefits were deferred until next year. We will continue to strive for these reforms.
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http://wdef.com/news/rep_watson_wraps_u ... re/06/2007


State Representatives ERIC WATSON and KEVIN BROOKS, both from Cleveland, Tennessee are among the many other state Senators and Representatives fighting illegal immigration and the destruction of Tennessee from illegal aliens.
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