By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Erika Osborne, the Tucker County High School Youth Leadership Association, Youth in Government Advisor appeared before the Tucker County Commission February 18th to request funding to send three students to the State Legislature in Charleston for the Annual Youth in Government.
“We’re seeking to send some students to a program called Youth in Government,” Osborne said.
The goal of the program, Osborne said, was to allow students a first hand experience in the bill process, from inception, writing and passage. Students write bills and have them “passed” and “signed into law,” all unofficially, of course.
“We can go to Charleston and pretend to be either a Representative or a Senator,” Osborne said.
The bills are written by students and sent to Charleston where they are rated, Osborne said. The students will not know whether they will present on the House or Senate until they arrive in Charleston.
Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau said that when he was in High School, he participated in Youth in Government. Rosenau presented a bill on the Senate floor, he said.
“That program has helped me through understanding the process and I think its a wonderful thing,” Rosenau said.
Rosenau went on to say that he felt it was a wonderful program and he wished more students were active in the club and he was glad that the group was going to Charleston.
The club’s request was for $350 for the trip. The request was unanimously approved by the three man body in a motion made by Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau.
