Education
Providing world-class education is a top priority for Eric Watson. Our
continued success depends on the education and knowledge we put in
place today.  Eric will insist that money going to education be spent at the
classroom level, not on creating administration and bureaucracy.

Education is critical for improving the quality of life and attracting
business to our 22nd District.  It is important to the decision maker as
they decide where they would like to move their families.  Access to an
educated labor pool also drives these companies' decisions.  I will work to
make sure our community lives up to its potential and that every child
gets the best education possible.

Strong Family Values
A nation is only as strong as the families within that nation.  As your
representative, I will support traditional family values.  I will not support
any effort that recognizes same sex marriages.

A marriage is the legal union of a man and a woman.  I will work to
support legislation that encourages such marriages, and I will oppose any
attempt to redefine traditional marriage.  Do not be confused.  A vote for
Eric Watson is a vote for traditional family values.

Economic Development
Eric Watson is committed to creating new opportunities for our
communities.  Being "open for business" means working cooperatively
with businesses seeking to locate and expand in our area, and finding and
developing the right situation for the business, it's employees, and the
citizens of our district.  The development of new, better paying jobs for
our residents must remain a priority to ensure a high quality of living that
the residents of Tennessee deserve.

Eric Watson wants to maximize the return on every dollar you send to
Nashville to encourage job creation and economic growth.  This requires
organizing government in the most efficient manner to provide services
to our citizens.  It also requires budgeting thoughtfully every dollar spent,
evaluated against the economic growth and opportunity it will create.  
Finally, it is necessary for every element of the government to use these
resources responsibly by identifying and eliminating instances of waste,
inefficiency, fraud, and abuse.

TennCare
One of the biggest strains on our budget is TennCare.  Eric will work to
remove felons and non-residents from the rolls.  Eric will encourage
continued negotiations with pharmaceutical companies in an effort to
provide medications at the lowest cost possible.  He will stop TennCare
from being a secondary insurance when the primary insurance coverage
is exhausted.  Eric, being a survivor of Gullian-Barre Syndrome, and his
family, having experienced a long-term heart-related illness, have been
victims of the healthcare industry. Eric understands the challenges of
healthcare expenses and healthcare coverage.

UPDATE:
Rep. Eric Watson is proud to announce that 1,118 people have been
arrested and charged with Tenncare fraud and related criminal charges
since November 1st, 2006. These arrest include charges for doctor
shopping, forged prescriptions, enrollees living outside of Tennessee,
those who falsely reported their income and do not qualify for TennCare,
or were charged with theft of TennCare services (many of whom were
using another persons TennCare card).

"One of the biggest strains on our budget is TennCare and we need to
make sure that those who really need TennCare, gets TennCare", said
Rep. Watson "When a person receives TennCare through fraudulently
actions, he or she takes away from a person who really needs it and the
violator should be prosecuted. In January of 2006, I promised the people
of Bradley, Polk, and Meigs counties that I would fight TennCare fraud,
abuse, to remove felons, non-residents from the rolls and I will continue
to support the mandate of identifying TennCare fraud and abuse, and take
aggressive action to investigate and prosecute individuals who commit
it".  

"The Office of the Inspector General offers a cash reward to anyone who
reports TennCare fraud that results in an arrest and conviction and I
encourage everyone to report fraud and abuse to the TennCare Fraud
Hotline at 1-800-433-3982.  If you know or suspect someone that  
fraudulently receives services such as families first, food stamps,
medicaid, child care, or vocational rehabilitation, please contact the
Human Services Fraud Hotline at 1-800-241-2629", concluded Rep.
Watson.

Small Business
The small business owner is the heart of our economy, as well as our
community, and is directly responsible for putting food on our tables.  
Small businesses pay more than their fair share of taxes, fees, and
licenses.  Family owned businesses must be preserved and protected
from big government intrusion.  Ask Eric's family.  They own a small
business.

State Income Tax
Eric will NOT support a state income tax!  He will fight to reduce taxes at
every opportunity. Eric will fight against our tax dollars going to pay
medical, dental, optics, foot, and neck clinics for jail inmates who are
convicted felons (sex offenders, etc), yet receiving free medical care at
the taxpayers' expense.  A payback system should be put in place to
reimburse taxpayers for such expenses.

Community Service
With seventeen years of cumulative years of experience with local and
state government, I have seen the many needs of our communities. A
community that works together is a strong community. Check out each
candidate and see how involved they have been in your community.
Coming from a Christian home, I have always been taught to help people.
All of my life, I have been involved in community events.

In 1992, I formed Tennessee Harmony,  a Southern Gospel group. As a
group, we raised thousands of dollars for misfortunate victims of medical
issues, car accidents, burned out homes, etc. The group has been blessed
with five top eighty songs. We have also been involved in many fairs,
concerts and even featured on J. Bazall Mull’s Singing Convention.

In 1999, I organized “Coats for the Cold”, a community initiative that has
collected and provided more than 1,600 coats for both children and
adults. Each winter, coats are provided to the underprivileged.

Since 2000, I have served as a TWRA boating instructor in Bradley, Meigs,
and Polk counties teaching boating courses to both youth and adults.

As a law enforcement officer, I have coordinated events such as
Operation Support Child and have assisted in the United States Marshals
Service, Operation Falcon. With the help of other dedicated officers, we
have arrested as many as 64 wanted felony criminals in less than 30
hours.
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