| Save the Date Friends, please take a moment and mark your calendar for December 14th to join us for the third annual 'Christmas Town with Friends of Mike Watson' celebration. As always, the afternoon will be filled with food, friendship, and an evening in Busch Garden's beautiful Christmas Town. We're working on the final plans now and invitations will go out soon via email. If you've not received your invitation by November 14th, simply email info@DelegateWatson.com for details. Proposed Constitutional Amendment On November 4th, you'll be voting for members of Congress of course. However, you should be aware of a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot as well. This amendment addresses a tax exemption offered to surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action. Under current law, a veteran with a one hundred percent permanent and total disability and their spouse are exempt from taxation on real property. This exemption continues with the surviving spouse until such time that he/she might remarry. However, the same consideration is not currently offered to the surviving spouse of a soldier killed in action. Passage of this Amendment will remedy that. This is the result of a bill that I proudly co-patroned with Delegate David Ramadan in 2013 (rememberConstitutional Amendments must be passed in two General Assembly sessions in order to make it to the ballot) and is a small step to acknowledge the families and members of our armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I hope that you'll vote yes. Manufacturing Day with WJCC Students Earlier this month I spent a day with nearly 100 Jamestown, Layfette, and Warhill High School students for Manufacturing Day. This event led by the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, members of the WJCC School Board and administration, and several community leaders was an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of manufacturing in our community and the types of jobs created by each. Students toured six area facilities to learn about their operations, products, and career opportunities. It was followed by lunch at Legacy Hall in New Town where I led a discussion on manufacturing, workforce development, and careers. We also heard from Thomas Nelson Community College who brought along a 3-D printer for a brief demonstration of one aspect of advanced manufacturing. Every student and parent should have the opportunity to learn about the types of careers available here and across the nation before making their post-secondary education decisions. It just might save them tens of thousands of dollars in college debt. I'd like to extend a special thanks to the facilities that opened their doors and dedicated time for these students: Walmart Distribution Center, Anheuser Busch, Coresix Precision Glass, Printpack Manufacturing, Ball Metal, and Owens Illinois. Governor's Energy Plan In my role with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, I was invited to participate in the Energy Industry Council presentation in Richmond a few weeks ago. We received a preview of the Governor's proposed energy plan for Virginia as well as details of the latest round of EPA mandates for air quality and emissions under the Clean Air Act. Most importantly, we learned how these new mandates are likely to impact our state's energy producers and consumers. It's a bit much to go into detail in a simple newsletter, but speaking as someone with considerable experience in power generation and stack emission control systems, I can speak with some confidence when I say that our General Assembly will soon be faced with another federally created dilemma. In short, it will be asked to agree to a plan that will ultimately shut down each and every coal-fired power station in the state and to commit to a technology that does not yet exist. I've spent enough time in the House of Delegates to know that this will not be an easy sell. This is not a comment on the Governor's plan as I think agreement could be achieved with modest work. The problem is that even the Governor's plan cannot comply with Article 111d of the Clean Air Act that mandates tighter restrictions on existing generators than it does on new ones. This Article can only be intended to achieve one outcome…and we thought Medicaid expansion was a challenge. Know your firearm Whether for home and personal protection or for shooting sports and competition, individual firearm purchases continue to rise. To promote responsible ownership, Lafayette Gun Club in Yorktown is offering the NRA FIRST Steps Pistol course designed to provide a hands‐on introduction to the safe handling and proper use of a handgun. The course is at least three hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to safely handle and shoot a semi‐automatic pistol or revolver and is available for members and non-members. Consider enrolling yourself or a loved one. It's also a great Valentines Day gift...ask me how I know. For more information email: chiefinstructor@lafayettegunclub.org Friends of Mike Watson - Contributions Please consider contributing to the The Friends of Mike Watson campaign committee today. You can do so via mail or on-line using PayPal or any major credit card. Contributions will support mail, web & social media, office expenses, and help place the committee in an advantageous position for its next campaign. If you would like to help please click here or mail your check to: Friends of Mike Watson PO Box 6628 Williamsburg, VA 23188 Thank You
Amy & I want to again thank the nearly 200 guests who attended our 2011/13 local donor open-house reception on September 19th. The music, the food, and the friendship made for a wonderful evening. | 
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