On Dec. 6 on the campus of Kaskaskia College, Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, hosted high school students from his district. The event was part of the senator’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) program.
“We need to open the doors for our youth to understand how government works, what the process looks like and figure out how to get more people involved. We are supposed to be a citizen-legislature and we need to make sure we have engaged, informed citizens to ensure a healthy democracy,” said Plummer. “This is an opportunity for them to take a hands-on role in the process of developing and passing legislation.”
Plummer’s YAC program welcomes high school students from the 55th District to learn more about government through two biannual meetings, once during the fall semester in the district, and then in the spring at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. This year there were nearly 20 high schools and over 60 students participating.
On Dec. 6, the students headed to Kaskaskia College in Vandalia. Plummer welcomed in three speakers, State Sen. Steve McClure, 54th district; Misty Borrowman, President and CEO Bank of Hillsboro; and Jeff Isbell, Meridian Health.
“My favorite speaker of the day was Senator McClure, because he talked about issues I hadn’t thought about, and he really interested me in them,” said St. Elmo High School student Kelly Moss. “My favorite part of today was learning more about the legislative system, about things I didn’t even think about.”
Students worked in small groups to come up with ideas for new legislation. The groups then presented their ideas for a vote to determine one bill that would advance. There was a battle over two of the proposals, with the students in attendance deadlocked in a tie vote. Eventually, teachers were polled as tiebreakers, helping to advance a proposal to provide opportunities for high school students to tutor elementary students in their districts.
During the spring semester, students will go to the State Capitol in Springfield to meet with other lawmakers and individuals who are involved in the lawmaking process, before holding a mock committee hearing on the bill they advanced during the fall.
Plummer’s YAC program is an annual event open to high school students in the 55th Senate District. He encourages interested students to ask their teachers and/or principals about taking part. Students, parents, teachers and administrators are welcome to contact Plummer’s offices in Vandalia and Springfield for more information.