Katherine Pamplin, a sophomore at Summit Atlas, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 10. Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-Seattle) sponsored her week at the Legislature.
The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for Senate staff.
Pamplin applied to the program because she’s always been interested in the inner workings of government: “I’ve always been interested in the government and like how things work, and so I thought this is like super cool that you get to be in the floor and like learn all the behind the scenes that goes on.”
Pamplin’s favorite part is working on the floor “because of the intensity when they start debating and arguing over bills.”
She sponsored a bill for her page program’s mock committee regarding recycling plastics, although she wished that they worked on restricting the vaping problem instead.
“I feel like the vaping problem is high and I would like to restrict it more because so many people are doing it now, it’s really affecting teens. So, I feel like if it’s restricted it will hopefully help more people.”
Pamplin also would recommend the program.
“I would recommend it if you’re interested in government and learning about the State Senate.”
For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.
