ALEXANDRIA, VA Scott Ward, President of the Republican State Leadership Committee, the nation's largest caucus of Republican state leaders, released the following statement concerning Illinois State Senator Frank Watson's announcement that he is retiring after 30 years in the Illinois General Assembly:

The people of the 51st District and all of Illinois will lose a tremendous leader with the retirement of Senator Watson. His tireless dedication to the people of his district is an honorable example of the role of a public servant. We will miss his enthusiasm in sharing his beliefs that a limited government can create the fertile ground of opportunity for all. We wish him well in his continuing recovery and his many blessed years to come.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country making a national impact one state at a time.

The RSLC has over 70,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC's goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies. During the 2008 election the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.