OLYMPIA – Lawmakers will begin the 2011 legislative session in January, and Rep. Reuven Carlyle wants teens from the community to get involved, too.
Students between the ages of 14 and 16 can apply to serve a week in Olympia as a House page. Pages do a variety of tasks, including passing out copies of amendments, presenting ceremonial flags, and delivering notes to lawmakers on the House floor.
Carlyle himself got his start in state government by serving in the state House’s page program. He also served as a page in Congress for former Washington Senators Warren Magnuson and Henry Jackson.
“It’s a great honor to have outstanding youth from around the state come to Olympia and get involved,” said Carlyle, D-Seattle. “Walking on the floor as the House debates important issues, like education funding and graduation requirements, is an experience pages won’t forget. These youth will become our next generation of leaders and lawmakers.”
To serve as a page, a student must:
– Have permission from a parent or guardian
– Have permission from their school
– Be sponsored by a current member of the House of Representatives
– Be at least 14 years of age and not have reached his or her 17th birthday
In addition to the experience, pages are also paid for their work — $35 a day. The House supplies a list of private housing options, but housing and transportation arrangements are the page’s responsibility.
Carlyle encourages all interested students to contact his office for more information. Email at reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov or by phone at (206) 216-3184.
More information can be found at the Page Program website: www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx
The 2011 legislative session will begin January 10 and is schedule to end April 24.