Resolutions Passed by the 2008 Virginia Young Democrats Convention
The following resolutions passed by a unanimous vote in a bloc:
A Resolution to Commemorate the Life of David Layman
1 WHEREAS, David Layman spent many years dedicated to the principles and beliefs of the Democratic Party of Virginia, 2 and;
3 WHEREAS, David Layman served as president of CWA Local 2204 from 1966 to 1999, and;
4 WHEREAS, David Layman was a selfless and tireless advocate for the people of the Sixth District, and;
5 WHEREAS, David Layman worked endlessly to elect Democratic candidates in the Sixth District, and;
6 WHEREAS, David Layman supported the Virginia Young Democrats and encouraged them to attend meetings in
7 Lexington, and therefore be it;
8 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats commemorate the life of David Layman and honor him for his service
9 to the Democratic Party, and;
10 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary present a copy of this resolution to the Layman family.
Jamie Lockhart (James Madison University)
A Resolution to Commemorate The Life of Mitch Van Yahres
1 WHEREAS, Delegate Mitch Van Yahres was essential to the Democratic revitalization in Charlottesville, and;
2 WHEREAS, Delegate Van Yahres served the people of the Charlottesville as a member of the City Council, Mayor, and
3 and twelve-term member of the House of Delegates from 1981 to 2005, and;
4 WHEREAS, Delegate Van Yahrese was a strong progressive who called attention to the issues of poverty across the
5 Commonwealth, therefore be it:
6 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats commemorate the life of Delegate Mitch Van Yahres and honor him for 7 his service to the Democratic Party, and,
8 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary present a copy of this resolution to the Van Yahres family.
Jamie Lockhart (James Madison University
A Resolution Concerning the Protect America Act
1 WHEREAS, the Protect America Act expired on February 17, 2008, and;
2 WHEREAS, the domestic warrantless wiretapping authority granted to the President represents a grave breach of the
3 Fourth Amendment, and;
4 WHEREAS, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been amended multiple times to be updated for new
5 technologies, and;
6 WHEREAS, the President seeks to grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies who willingly participated in an illegal
7 and unconstitutional invasion of American privacy, and;
8 WHEREAS, the unprecedented expansion of surveillance rights fits a pattern of chipping away at our civil liberties, and;
9 WHEREAS, victory against terrorism should never include the surrender of our most basic constitutional rights, therefore
10 be it:
11 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats urge Congress to vote against a reinstatement of the Protect America
12 Act.
Kenton Ngo (Fairfax County)
A Resolution Concerning 5 Years and 4,000 Deaths in Iraq
1 WHEREAS, for five years America's brave servicemen and women have fought valiantly in Iraq, and;
2 WHEREAS, over 4,000 of America's finest have fallen in battle, and tens of thousands injured, and;
3 WHEREAS, despite the best efforts of our armed forces, the incompetence of the Bush Administration has failed to bring 4 political stability and security to Iraq, and;
5 WHEREAS, there is no foreseeable end to the conflict or exit strategy, therefore be it:
6 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats that we honor the sacrifices of our brave men and women, and;
7 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats call for an end to the war as quickly as possible.
Daniel Davis (Arlington County)
A Resolution Concerning Party Unity
1 WHEREAS, there will a Democratic nominee at some point, and;
2 WHEREAS, we Democrats share a common commitment to justice, equality, and opportunity in America, and;
3 WHEREAS, John McCain represents a continuation of the failed and destructive policies of the Bush administration,
4 and;
5 WHEREAS, we have a historic field of candidates who represent the change that America so desperately needs, therefore
6 be it:
7 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats unite behind our eventual nominee.
Jamie Lockhart (James Madison University)
A Resolution Commending the Virginia Tech Young Democrats
1 WHEREAS, there has not been a convention in Southwest Virginia for many years, and;
2 WHEREAS, the Virginia Tech Democrats gracefully agreed to host Convention this year, and;
3 WHEREAS, the Virginia Tech Democrats have spent many hours planning and executing this Convention, therefore be it:
4 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats commend the Virginia Tech Young Democrats for all their hard work to
5 put this Convention together.
Jamie Lockhart (James Madison University)
A Resolution Commemorating the Suffrage of William & Mary Students
1 WHEREAS, William and Mary students have been denied the right to vote for years in the city of Williamsburg, and;
2 WHEREAS, the students of William and Mary, included in the US Census as Williamsburg residents, are rightful citizens
3 of the city of Williamsburg, and;
4 WHEREAS, the William & Mary Student Assembly, William and Mary Young Democrats, and William and Mary College
5 Republicans have worked hard for a long time to correct this problem, therefore be it:
5 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats congratulate the students of William & Mary on their suffrage.
6 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to
7 ensure the unalienable right of students to vote in the town they attend college, as students are currently guaranteed in 37
8 states and the District of Columbia.
David Witowsky (William & Mary)
A Resolution Calling on Dominion Power to Commit to Clean Energy
1 WHEREAS, Dominion Power has consistently rejected the development and progress of alternative sources of fuel, and;
2 WHEREAS, studies have shown that coal-processing chemicals, equipment powered by diesel engines, explosives, toxic
3 impurities in coals, and even dust from uncovered coal trucks can cause environmental pollution that could have a negative
4 effect on public health, and;
5 WHEREAS, the new coal power plant proposed for Wise County would contribute to deteriorating air quality of the
6 planet, and;
7 WHEREAS, power companies across the country have begun to commit to cleaner sources of energy, therefore be it;
8 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats urge Dominion Power to abandon obsolete and polluting technologies,
9 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats urge Dominion Power to commit to the study and
10 implementation of clean, renewable sources of energy.
Dan Geroe (Virginia Tech)
The following resolutions passed unanimously, as amended.
A Resolution Congratulating our General Assembly Democrats
1 WHEREAS, the Democratic Party gained a majority of seats in the State Senate, and;
2 WHEREAS, in the past three cycles the Democratic Party has made historic gains including a gain of five seats alone
3 in the House of Delegates for the 2008 session, and;
4 WHEREAS, this represents a rejection of the regressive and narrow-minded policies of the Republican Party in Virginia,
5 RESOLVED, by the Virginia Young Democrats that we congratulate our freshmen members, and;
6 FURTHER RESOLVED, that we congratulate the success of the Democratic Leadership.
James “Skippy” Martin (University of Mary Washington)
The following resolutions passed by a vote of 358 ayes, 154 nays, 21 abstentions.
A Resolution to Congratulate Barack Obama on Winning the Virginia Primary
1 WHEREAS, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won a majority in the Feburary 12th presidential preference primary, and;
2 WHEREAS, all candidates ran a spirited campaign which increased record turnout, and;
3 WHEREAS, a record 986,203 voters cast their ballots in the primary, of which over 135,000 were young voters, and;
4 WHEREAS, Democratic primary turnout exceeded Republican turnout by over 2:1, therefore be it;
5 RESOLVED, that the Virginia Young Democrats congratulate Senator Obama on his victory, and;
6 FURTHER RESOLVED, that we congratulate Democrats statewide.
Dan Geroe (Virginia Tech)
