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DELAWARE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

                                                      P.O. BOX 473  MEDIA, PA 19063

Clifford E. Wilson

Chairman

Resolution in Support of Representative Greg Vitali

Whereas public service is a gift bestowed by the people to whom public servants are ultimately responsible for their actions, and;

Whereas the public perception of politicians and public officials in America has too often been poor, due to violations of the public trust, greed, misdeeds, and disregard for the needs and concerns of constituents, and;

Whereas Greg Vitali has been a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 166^th Legislative District since January, 1993 and has represented his constituents with an independent, thoughtful, intelligent, and highly principled voice not seen often enough in politics today, and;

Whereas Representative Greg Vitali has been a leader among his colleagues in the areas of environmental conservation, good government and campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania politics in order to improve the conduct of elections in Pennsylvania, and;

Whereas Representative Greg Vitali cast a principled vote of conscience against the recent legislative pay increase and has decided against taking the salary increase in the questionable manner known as "unvouchered expenses", and;

Whereas Minority Leader H. William DeWeese has unfairly punished Democratic legislators who voted against the salary increase by removing them from committee leadership positions, and further punishing them by cutting off funds to operate constituent outreach programs, and;

Whereas under the "leadership" of Minority Leader H. William DeWeese, the Democratic caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has grown smaller, and smaller, and smaller, and smaller, and;

Whereas Governor Edward G. Rendell has called for the reversal of Representative DeWeese's punitive actions against members of his own caucus;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

The Delaware County Democratic Party joins Governor Rendell in calling for the immediate re-instatement of all Democratic legislators who have been removed from positions of leadership by Representative DeWeese.

The Delaware County Democratic Party calls for the immediate return to these legislators of constituent outreach funds that were unjustly and unfairly taken away in a punishing act by the House Democratic Leadership.

The Delaware County Democratic Party demands that no legislator be punished in the future for casting a vote of principle and conscience and further demands that legislative leaders who take punitive actions against their colleagues who cast votes of principle resign their positions of leadership and allow more effective leaders to take their place.

Adopted this 8^th day of September, 2005.