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Elementary School Students Lobby for Washington State Mammal |
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
OLYMPIA, WA - Washington state already has an official state bird and state marine mammal. After a committee hearing Wednesday, the state is one step closer to having an official endemic mammal. Students from Seattle’s Wedgewood Elementary School have been lobbying the legislature to honor the Olympic Marmot. Correspondent Ryan Morden reports.
The nearly 9-billion dollar budget gap in Olympia isn’t stopping this class of 5th graders. They’re attempting to induct a squirrel-like creature into Washington’s pantheon of state symbols. The students gathered in front of the House government affairs committee. After a whispered nudge… Nick Jansen narrated part of the Power-Point presentation.
Nick Jansen, “The Olympic Marmot is endemic and found only in the state of Washington. The Olympia Marmot lives only in the Alpine Zone of the Olympia National Park. It’s important for Washington’s citizens to be aware of this rare and unique animal.”
Immediately after the testimony, the bill passed the committee. The students then met with House Speaker Frank Chopp, requesting a vote on the House floor. The class project aims to push the state endemic mammal designation all the way to a bill signing by the governor.
Copyright 2009 KUOW
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