HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2 Offered January 4, 2008 Directing the staff of the House Committee on Appropriations to establish a searchable budget database website detailing where, for what purpose, and what results are achieved for all taxpayer investments in state government. ---------- Patron-- Marshall, R.G. ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, a successful representative government must operate with the full support of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, there is a paramount need for all of the actions of the government to be transparent in order for its citizens to maintain the highest level of trust; and

WHEREAS, in addition, there is a need for citizens to be able to observe and review all legislative actions of government in order to be informed partners in government; and

WHEREAS, no action of the government has more effect on the people than budget decisions; and

WHEREAS, currently the biennial budget, which is the single largest individual legislation considered by the General Assembly, is extremely difficult for the ordinary citizen to understand or review; and

WHEREAS, citizens should be able to access easily the details on how the state is spending their tax dollars and what performance results are achieved for those expenditures; and

WHEREAS, to that end, the staff of the House Committee on Appropriations should create and maintain a searchable budget database website detailing where, for what purpose, and what results are achieved for all taxpayer investments in state government; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the House Committee on Appropriations be directed to establish a searchable budget database website detailing where, for what purpose, and what results are achieved for all taxpayer investments in state government.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled December 21, 2007 Commending Steven E. Wilson. ---------- Patron-- Lewis ----------

WHEREAS, Steven E. Wilson has served the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company for 26 years and been its chief since 1995; and

WHEREAS, Steven "Steve" Wilson grew up believing that he had a duty to serve and protect his community, and at age 12, he joined the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company as a junior firefighter and eventually became a qualified firefighter instructor; and

WHEREAS, a man of integrity, Steve Wilson continually works to improve his fire company and takes great care in the training of his firefighters and in obtaining the necessary equipment to ensure their safety; and

WHEREAS, Steve Wilson is very active in the regional firemen's associations; he is a past president of the Accomack-Northampton Firemen's Association and has served the Delmarva Volunteer Firemen's Association as vice president and is its current president; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Steve Wilson works as a Master Police Officer with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel District; and

WHEREAS, along with all the other volunteer firemen in the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company, Steve Wilson is on call 24 hours a day, and he is always ready to respond when the alarm sounds; and

WHEREAS, Steve Wilson feels that his compensation for his work with the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company is the knowledge that he puts forth his very best to serve his community and will continue to do so for as long as possible; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Steven E. Wilson for his many years of outstanding service to the community of Cape Charles and the surrounding area; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Steven E. Wilson as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration and gratitude for his commitment to protecting his fellow citizens.