Youth & Government program puts them in charge at Capitol
By Tracy Loew
Statesman Journal
March 8, 2008
McNary High School's Jared Suing (from right), Lake Oswego High School's Evan Green and Sprague High School's Liz Fetherston talk about universal health care during the 62nd session of Oregon YMCA Youth & Government at the Capitol on Friday. Top, Sherwood High School's Amber Choruby passes a note.
Sprague High School senior Daniel Zhong was ecstatic. He had been elected reading clerk of the House of Representatives. And his bill abolishing the death penalty in Oregon had just passed.
Zhong was among about 120 high school students participating in the 62nd YMCA Youth & Government program, which conducts a mock legislative session at the state Capitol. Locally, students from Sprague, McKay and McNary high schools participated.
The event replicates the real legislative sessions down to the smallest details.
Nate Meyr of Brownsville, who had been elected governor, held court in the ceremonial office. Pages ran notes among legislators, and chamber leaders insisted on proper parliamentary procedure.
In fact, some adult observers commented, it seemed to run more smoothly than Oregon's real legislative sessions.
On Thursday, the students had elected a governor, held swearing-in ceremonies and been welcomed by real Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
Friday, students in each of the chambers presented, debated and voted on bills.
McKay senior Alejandra Morales had helped write a bill that would require municipalities to use energy- saving LED bulbs in street lights.
She started work on the bill back in September, calling city of Salem officials to find out how many bulbs they use and how much it would cost to replace them.
Morales said she wishes more students would participate in the mock session.
"As youth, we should take a lead in our community," Morales said.
Participants said the experience isn't intimidating because everyone is respectful and supportive.
"It's a great experience," Morales said. "You have to stand up someday."
Sometimes, McKay senior Claudia Ramirez said, real legislators pick up bills that the youth legislature approves.
McKay sophomore Kaylee Clifton spoke against a bill urging Congress to help victims in the Darfur region of Sudan.
She also addressed an issue more close to home: "We need to focus more on getting homeless people off the streets in our country," she told her peers.
Other bills addressed issues such as sex-offender notification, universal health care, and Oregon's income- tax kicker rebate.
Zhong said he wrote his bill after doing research about the death penalty.
"I thought it was ridiculous how much money it was costing," he said.
Students do all of the preparation on their own time and don't get class credit, Zhong said.
So why do they do it?
"There's something really cool about sitting where the actual Oregon senators and representatives sit and doing it just as the real people do it," Zhong said.
Besides, McKay senior Emily Smith said, it's good to practice.
"Someday we're going to be running this place," she said.
tloew@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6779
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