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Lutes at the Legislature: PLU students and alumni contribute at every level of the legislative process

Posted by: Zach Powers / March 4, 2016

PLU students and legislative interns Savannah Turner '16 and Kacie Masten '17 outside the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. (Photo by John Froschauer/PLU)

Image: PLU students and legislative interns Savannah Turner ’16 and Kacie Masten ’17 outside the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. (Photo by John Froschauer/PLU)

March 4, 2016

By Zach Powers '10
PLU Marketing & Communications

TACOMA, Wash. (March 3, 2016)— About 25 miles south of Pacific Lutheran University, lawmakers in Olympia are in the midst of the 2016 Washington state legislative session.

While the governor and state legislators direct the proceedings, they are supported and informed by a dedicated legion of staffers, interns and advocates. During the legislative session, attorneys, speechwriters, policy analysts and administrators burn the midnight oil just as low as the elected officials, dutifully serving the citizens of Washington state.

PLU students and alumni serve on both sides of the political aisle and at every level of the system. Each one of them is passionate about public policy, legislative process and their particular role in the lawmaking process.

Briahna Murray '07, VP of Government Affairs, Gordon Thomas Honeywell, in the capitol rotunda, is one of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Briahna Murray '07 ( )

Vice President, Gordon Thomas Honeywell | English and Political Science Major

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Rep. Larry Haler '74, R-Richland in his office is one of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Larry Haler '74 ( )

State Representative, 8th Legislative District | Political Science Major

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PLU students and legislative interns Savannah Turner '16 and Kacie Masten '17 outside the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. (All Photos by John Froschauer/PLU)

Savannah Turner '16 ( )

Intern, Office of the Lt. Governor | Political Science Major

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Kacie Masten '17 ( )

Intern, State Senate | Political Science and Sociology Major

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James Troyer '84, Senate Republicans Chief of Staff, in the senate chambers, is one of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Jim Troyer '84 ( )

Chief of Staff, Senate Republican Caucus | Biology Major

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Curt Kohlwes '10 Legislative Assistant, State Senate, is one of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Curt Kohlwes '11 ( )

Legislative Assistant, State Senate | Political Science and Economics Major

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Karl Vaage, intern, House Democrats and Kacie Masten, intern, Senate Democrats are two of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Karl Vaage '16 ( )

Intern, House of Representatives | Economics Major

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Haley Zepernick '17 ( )

Intern, House of Representatives | Political Science Major

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Aaron Sherman '11, Senate Democratic Caucus Communications Specialist in his office, is one of the Lutes in the legislature in Olympia, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Aaron T. Sherman '11 ( )

Communications Specialist, Senate Democratic Caucus | Political Science and Philosophy Major

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