My Kids:
Belinda and Andrew's Activities
Left to Right: Belinda Clayton, Andrew Clayton, and Jarrod Hitchings
Andrew Clayton and Jarrod Hitchings Achieve Record
Andrew Clayton of Raymond and Jarrod HItchings of
Farmersville attended the 50th Annual Youth & Government Assembly
on March 19-21 at the Springfield Holiday Inn East. Andrew Clayton is
a Senator this year, and now a three year alumnus of the Raymond
Lincolnwood High School Youth In Government Club along with Jarrod
Hitchings, who served as a Representative, has now completed two years in the organization.
For the first time in the organizations history, Andrew and Jarrod lobbied successfully
over the weekend, and achieved passage of their bill, House Bill-O-18, through both
the House and Senate and then met with Youth Governor Steven Daglas,
who signed the bill into law. The bill may now make it to Governor Ryan's desk and has
the chance to become actual law.
House Bill-O-18(HB-O-18) involved allowing anyone 18 or older, with a terminal illness,
to allow their Power of Attorney or Legal Guardian, to withold life sustaining
procedures. The patient will have the right to make this decision, prior to becoming
incapable of rendering such decisions and will enter into a legal contract
with the physician to assure their wishes will be adhered to.
The Raymond Delegation team of Andrew Clayton and Jarrod Hitchings, is the smallest in the assembly
with the largest numbering 90 students. It takes a great deal of work to
move a bill up on what is called "The Bill Docket", when there are so many large delgations, whose
bills tend to get more priority, as they are more readily able to sway votes. Congratultaions Andrew and Jarrod,
what a great job! Thanks to the Montgomery/Macoupin County Trades and Labor Council, Springfield Trades and Labor Council,
United Steelworkers of America Local 713 of Decatur,Illinois, United Steelworkers
Officers Council in Granite City, Illinois, Attorney at Law-Frederick Nessler, AFSCME Local 2856 at Graham
Correctional Center, and Montgomery County Democrats for your generous contributions, that have funded this organization, these past five years.
Also Congratulations to Belinda Clayton, Andrew's sister, who is now a 4 year alumnus of the Youth In Government Organization.
Belinda attended as College Security Staff for the Lobbyist group for Lincoln Land Community College, which she attends full time,
preparing for a degree in Communications. She greatly aided Andrew and Jarrod's cause through lobbying efforts and assisted with arranging
a meeting with the Youth Governor, through the Lieutenant Governor, prior to the bills passage.
The 50th Anniversary of the assembly was celebrated on March 19, 1999 at the Holiday Inn East, when everyone donned
fireworks covered white t-shirts that also had the Youth In Government marquee upon it, and all present posed for a group photograph. When dessert was served the night of the banquet, cheesecake
was brought into a darkened dining hall, covered with colorful sparklers, as the "Bull's Theme" played in the background.
Links to other sites on the Web
Official Youth In Government Website
State of Illinois Home Page
Illinois Lobbyist Directory
Congress Home Page