Straight Talk, Hard Work, Common Sense
Marilyn Rasmussen is no stranger to hard work.
Marilyn is a farmer, a mother of 7 and a grandmother of 19. She has
lived on
the farm for 50 years in rural Pierce County near
Eatonville. All of her children were involved in 4H and Future
Farmers of America (FFA). Between milking cows, being a 4H leader
and being on the Eatonville school board, Marilyn found time to take her
interest in kids and cows to the legislature in 1986. Education and
agriculture (our safe food supply) were, and still are, her top priorities.
Election to House
Marilyn was first elected in 1986, and served on
Education, Agriculture (Kids & Cows), Trade and Economic
Development, and the Capital Budget Committees. US Senator Maria
Cantwell was a colleague and chaired the Trade & ED Committee.
Protecting Kids and Seniors
While as a state representative Marilyn also worked
on veterans issues and prime sponsored the minor in possession bill.
Washington State was the first state in the nation to have such
legislation. The MIP law takes away the license of minors who are
found in possession of drugs and/or alcohol. "quote from Workman -
TNT" Other highlights of her work in the House working on issues
for Seniors, the beginnings of the Birth-6 program and levy
equalization.
Senate Service
Rasmussen was elected to the Senate in 1992. She continued her service to agriculture as chair of the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee. The top priority of the Ag Committee was food safety, preserving the family farm and preserving our agriculture lands.
Education
Reforming education was the highlight of '92. As a strong supporter
of public education, and education for ALL of our students, Marilyn
focused on children with special needs, ECAP, birth - three, smaller
class size, and the construction budget to help communities make the
necessary improvements in our schools.
Marilyn has two daughters who are teachers. Heidi is a middle school
teacher at Maryknoll. She was the 2004 teacher of the year for the
state of Hawaii and Donna is a Special Education teacher at
Shinning Mountain in the Bethel School District.
Agriculture and Jobs
A chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee Marilyn worked to ensure the safety of our food supply. Washington is the 5th biggest exporter in the nation and our agricultural products top Boeing and Microsoft. Trade and Economic Development were part of the Agriculture committee. Marilyn understands the importance of creating jobs in our state.
Natural Resources
Marilyn understands the value of Washington's east and west sides to us and to each other. Crops, rivers, forests, pastures and harbors combined together help feed our economic engine. Stewardship and protection of these resources for our future generations is a duty she understands. She has been on the board of the Nisqually Land Trust and worked with the tribes to improve salmon runs and habitats.
Healthcare
Health care continues to be a priority and no one
knows more about this than Marilyn. One of her daughters, Dr. Linda
Rasmussen, is an orthopedic surgeon and heads the Medical
Association in Hawaii. Her daughter Mary is a critical care
Registered Nurse at Tacoma General. 
Military and Veterans
While Senate Chair of Agriculture and serving on the
Education Committee, Marilyn also served on the Ways and Means and
Veterans and Military Affairs Committees. Her son Michael is a
retired 22 year Air Force Reservist, having served with the 446th
Airlift at McChord.
Veterans and military
issues have always been a concern for Marilyn with Ft. Lewis,
McChord and the Orting Soldiers home as part of the second district.
Recently, Marilyn received an award for her work on behalf of
military organizations from the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of
Commerce for her legislation regarding realignments and base
closures.
Community Safety
Keeping our community safe by strengthening our
penalties for sex predators and giving law enforcement the tools
they need to eradicate methamphetamine production, dealers and
users. We must have zero tolerance for not only sex predators and
methamphetamines, but also for those who drive under the influence
of alcohol.
We need protect our
community from those who commit identity theft. Protecting citizens
across the state from the scourge of crime.
Our Vulnerable Citizens
Working with the developmentally disabled community
has and is always of great importance to Marilyn. Mainstreaming our
children in our public schools, we need to support families, our
school personnel and most importantly, our children. Currently one
out of every 150 children is born with autism. Marilyn created the
Autism Task Force in 2006 which continues to work, not just for
children and adults with autism, but also look at the needs for
training, education, home health and respite care. A major issue
coming up will be insuring children who have neurological behavioral
disorders which currently are not covered by health insurance. All
of our children deserve access to health care. Her grandson Caleb was diagnosed
with autism 2002.
Senator Rasmussen is a friendly neighbor, a tough advocate, and she is and will always be there for you. She doesn't just listen, she makes it happen!
You can count on Marilyn to be there for you.
2008 Corn Feed Photos
2008 Ohop Grange Photos
