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Elementary School Students Lobby For Washington Marmots

BY RYAN MORDEN

Olympia, WA  March 24, 2009 3:01 p.m.

Washington state already has an official state bird and state marine mammal. And at a committee hearing Wednesday, students from a Seattle elementary school lobbied lawmakers to honor the Olympic Marmot. Correspondent Ryan Morden reports.

The nearly $9-billion 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 mammaldesignation all the way to a bill signing by the governor.

© 2009 KUOW

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