Submitted by the Washington State Legislature
Nolan Keesee, 14, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of February 29, the eighth week of the 2016 Legislative Session.
“Nolan was a pleasure to have with us in the Senate” said Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, who sponsored Keesee’s week in the Legislature. “I hope he had a great experience as a page.”
During their week at the Capitol, pages assist senators and staff, hear lectures from guest speakers, and attend page school where they create their own bills in a mock committee setting. Keesee helped write a bill concerning wolf attacks on livestock that would increase a tax on beef by one cent. The revenue would be allocated to ranchers and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to support non-lethal prevention activities to protect livestock from wolves. After a few days of thorough research, the pages come together for a genuine debate.
“I got to be chairman and bang the gavel,” said Keesee. “The committee was great.”
Pages are charged with many responsibilities at the Capitol, which take them all over campus and offer them a glimpse of what it is like behind the scenes for their elected officials. One of the most exciting duties is being able to serve on the Senate floor during session.
“I was really nervous to do the floor the first time, but it was really fun,” said Keesee.
The page program is a unique opportunity for young students offered by only one state other than Washington. Pages come from all over the state to Olympia and will often have a homestay with a local family involved in the program. Keesee said his house has been a homestay for several years so he was excited to try the program himself.
“It’s really a lot of fun and it’s great to meet so many new people,” he said.
Keesee is homeschooled in his freshman year and is on the wrestling team at Black Hills High School. This year he was thrilled to have made it all the way to state competitions. Keesee also likes to dance and is looking forward to Boy Scout camp outs this summer.
