IL Lawmaker Returns to Work After Serving in Iraq SPRINGFIELD, IL (wsiu) - Representative Jim Watson is back in the Illinois statehouse after spending months in Iraq as an active-duty marine.

Watson thanked members of both parties for watching over his district while he was away. Lawmakers held office hours in his
district and responded to constituent requests to help make up for Watson's absence.

He told House members on Wednesday that he hopes to see more of that kind of bipartisan cooperation in the future.

The Jacksonville Republican is a 1991 Gulf War veteran. He enlisted in the marine reserves last year and was called to active
duty in January. As a sitting state legislator, his deployment
could last no more than nine months.
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