Selah student spends week in Olympia learning about Legislature
Selah Middle School student Jackson Jamieson recently traveled to Olympia this week to serve as a page in the state House of Representatives. The son of Jeff and Darcie Jamieson of Yakima, Jackson was sponsored by 14th District Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima.
Following in the footsteps of two uncles who served as pages in their youth, Jackson learned to traverse the busy hallways on the Capitol campus while delivering messages and documents to legislators and staff. He assisted representatives on the House floor and participated in opening ceremonies, such as honor guard during each day of session.
As a part of the program, Jackson spent time each day in page school learning the inner workings and actions of the Legislature, often directly from representatives. As a culminating project, he co-wrote a bill designed to reduce injuries inflicted by the misuse of firearms by requiring those purchasing a firearm to complete a safety course. He presented his bill in a mock committee process to a group of his fellow pages, drawing on his research and observations from the week in his arguments.
Jackson also joined Rep. Johnson for an interview on KIT Radio with Lance Tormey, and talked about his experience as a page.
“It's very exciting. You get to meet new people that you've never met before and wouldn't without this opportunity and you get to do things that you wouldn't be able to do,” he said.
A jazz band percussionist for his school and a jazz connoisseur in his free time, Jackson earned $35 per day while serving in the program. After high school, Jackson plans to pursue an education studying law.
To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor, be between the ages of 14 and 16, and obtain written permission from their parents and school. For more information about the House page program, visit: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx.
Photo caption: Legislative page Jackson Jamieson stands with Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima at the rostrum in the chambers of the Washington State House of Representatives. Jamieson is from Yakima. He spent a week paging for lawmakers in Olympia.
For more information about Rep. Johnson, visit: www.representativenormjohnson.com.
