Stowe
Elementary School Online Chat
Members of
the Stowe Elementary School Student Council
February 15, 2006
Stowe
Student Council:
Hello Senator, thank you for
your patience and for taking the time to chat with us today. We have
elected members of the Stowe Elementary School Student Council chatting
with you.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Hi. I can see you all!
Stowe Student Council:
Emma would like to know
how many hours per week you work.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Emma, it is probably 60 or
more. It’s usually 6-7 days a week, but it is fascinating work and I
love it.
Stowe Student Council:
Nicole would like to know
what you will do when you retire.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Nicole, my wife asks me
the same question! I don’t intend to retire soon, but when I do, I will
look forward to spending more time at my home in Middlesex, Vermont and
working on my papers at UVM and St. Michael's College.
Stowe Student Council:
Josh would like to know if
you watched the Super Bowl.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Josh, I did watch the
Super Bowl. I always look forward to the ads -about the only thing on
TV where I enjoy the ads!
Stowe Student Council:
Andi would like to know
why you voted against Judge Alito's nomination for the Supreme Court.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
There are 9 members of the
Supreme Court and I voted for 7 of them. I did not vote for Justice
Alito because I felt he would not have the independence a Supreme Court
Justice should have. I could say a lot more about the confirmation
process.
Stowe Student Council:
Nick is asking how long it
takes to make a law.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Nick, some laws go through
very quickly. We are working on one right now involving asbestos which has
already taken several years and may take the rest of this year. The more
complex laws take a lot longer and much of the work takes place on the
floor of the Senate.
Stowe Student Council:
Ed wants to know what you
think about gas prices in Vermont.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Ed, I am very concerned
about the prices of gas and heating oil in Vermont. It does not seem
right that the oil companies are making unprecedented profits while at
the same time prices are so high.
Stowe Student Council:
Kailey really wants to
know what your favorite food is!
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Kailey, my maternal
grandparents came to Vermont from Italy and I have always enjoyed
Italian food - that's my favorite!
Stowe Student Council:
Kailey says that is her
favorite, too!
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Good call, Kailey!
Stowe Student Council:
Harrison would like to
know your favorite sport and your favorite team and player.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
My favorite sport is
baseball and my favorite team is the Red Sox, Harrison. Right now, I am
enjoying watching the skiing events on the Olympics. The Vermonters
competing at the Olympics make us all proud.
Stowe Student Council:
Sara wants to know what
you are doing to help Vermont schools, Senator.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Sara, most of the
involvement with Vermont schools is on the local and state level and
does not take place in Washington. What I have tried to do is get more
federal funding for specialized education and technology in schools.
Obviously my office will help any school we can.
Stowe Student Council:
Erica is asking if you
have any pets.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Erica, I go back and forth
between Vermont and Washington several times a month so it really is
impossible to have pets. My adult children all have dogs and I get the
chance to play with them. My son, his wife and their daughter live near
us in Vermont and our daughter and her husband live near us in
Washington.
Stowe Student Council:
Angie wants to know how
the US prevents roadside bombs and mines in other countries.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Angie, the United States
has what is called the Leahy Anti Landmine law and we do not allow
landmines to be sold to other countries. I have also written the
legislation that pays for the United States to stop landmines around the
world.
Stowe Student Council:
Jordan wants to know what
Stowe Elementary School can do to prevent Global Warming.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Jordan, we should all do
whatever we can to cut down emissions. This means better automobiles,
catalytic converters on our wood burning stoves and so forth. All
nations have to work on this – for example, China, which is developing
so fast, must do a much better job.
Stowe Student Council:
Ula really wants to know
if you like purple socks.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Ula, I only where those at
Grateful Dead concerts.
Stowe Student Council:
This is our last question
,Senator. Emma wants to know if you are a liberal or conservative
Democrat?
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
I think most people
consider me liberal, Emma. I consider myself first and foremost a
Vermonter and feel privileged that the Leahys have been in Vermont for
more than 150 years (although I am NOT that old!)
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
It is great to be with you
all. If you see me in Vermont, please come up and say hi – I would love
to meet you in person
Stowe Student Council:
Thank you for taking the
time out of your busy day to talk with us, Senator Leahy.
Senator
Patrick Leahy:
Great being with you.
Stowe Student Council:
You too, Senator!
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