Online Chat With Fifth-Grade Students
Of The Alburg Community Education Center
March 12, 2003

Senator Patrick Leahy: Hi, this is Pat Leahy and I just arrived in the office. Great to be with you.
Alburg School: hi
Senator Patrick Leahy: I was up your way a couple weeks ago but am glad we can meet like this. Please excuse any mistakes I make - I'm a better senator than I am a typist.
Alburg School: we have some questions to ask you
Senator Patrick Leahy: go ahead
Alburg School: We have a bridge from Alburg to Swanton called The West Swanton Bridge. One time a tractor-trailer truck and car came head on and the tractor-trailer truck went off the bridge. We wanted to know if it is true that you are building a new bridge because people are getting hurt and we don't think it is that safe because the bridge is so small. Some people don't want to tear down the bridge because of the Soft Shelled turtles. We think that people are more important than Soft Shelled Turtles. Brittany made a poem about The West Swanton Bridge at the beginning of the school year. Hear it is.

"Some people are slow in the head.
Because they won't tear down the West Swanton Bridge.
All because that's where the turtles made their bed.
I think they are going to wait until a million people are dead."

Senator Patrick Leahy: Incidentally thanks for e-mailing me your picture. I have it on my desk now
Senator Patrick Leahy: We can build a new bridge and protect the turtles too. Like the other members of the delegation I am working to get the bridge money and enough money for the environmental experts to protect the turtles. The bridge does need to be fixed
Alburg School: I think that is good
Alburg School: We looked you up on the Internet and saw that you help with Judiciary, Agriculture, Nutrition, Forestry, and Appropriations. What is the most important issue in each category?
Senator Patrick Leahy: In Judiciary I work to protect all our liberties. Today the Under Secretary of Homeland Security was before our committee and I asked him what we are doing to make the border secure between us and Canada and how we make sure the good people working for INS, border patrol etc are utilized to the best.
Senator Patrick Leahy: In Agriculture I have worked to help Vermont farmers of all kinds and am working on programs to get more money to dairy farmers. I also want to improve the nutrition of all Americans.
Alburg School: In our class we have been talking about the basketball girl that always puts her back to the flag during the National Anthem. What do you think about that?
Senator Patrick Leahy: Appropriations is really the most important position for Vermont. I have used it to help create thousands of jobs in Vermont over the years and to protect our environment by cleaning up Lake Champlain, to bring money for education and so forth. I am the only Vermonter in generations to serve on the committee and it is important for our little state.
Alburg School: great that lake is really dirty
Senator Patrick Leahy: I always stand at attention when our National Anthem is played, as a Vermonter, an American and a United States Senator I have enormous respect for it. I also respect the fact that one of the reasons we are such a great country is that people can express different views even when we might disagree.
Alburg School: us too
Senator Patrick Leahy: The lake is going to get a lot cleaner. Senator Jeffords and I have passed legislation which will make it possible to get the money necessary
Alburg School: that's good.
Alburg School: How come we have to go all the way to St. Albans to shop. Why aren't there more stores to shop in the Islands?
Senator Patrick Leahy: Merchants have to invest a lot in a store and they tend to go where they think customers are. I have spent a lot of time in the Islands and do appreciate the stores that are there. I do think the decision to place a store is driven largely by population.
Alburg School: Do you think we should go to war with Iraq? Do you think they have biological weapons?
Senator Patrick Leahy: They have started a vote on the floor and i will have to go soon. When you vote on a recorded vote you have to be physically on the floor to cast your vote and i have about 8 minutes to get there. However my office in the Capitol is real nearby
Alburg School: can we ask one more question?
Senator Patrick Leahy: I believe Iraq does still have some biological weapons. They had them in the past and used them against some of their own people [the Kurds]. I do not think we should go to war however. We can contain Iraq without the bloodshed that a war would cost. If we do go to war we should all pray for the safety of our men and women and that the bloodshed
Senator Patrick Leahy: time for one more
Senator Patrick Leahy: I wanted to say that we hope that the bloodshed be very limited . Usually there is a lot of suffering in the civilian population when this happens. I know our military will try to limit such damage.
Alburg School: Is Harvard the best college around this area? I ( Brittany ) want to go to the best college, and Anna and I have to go to the same college. I want to be a lawyer. I ( Anna ) want to be an actress.
Senator Patrick Leahy: Anna and Brittany you have stumped me! Harvard is a great college but there are a lot of others. I went to St. Michael's for undergrad work and than to Georgetown for my law degree. My children went to UVM and Emory. Some schools are better for what you want to do - fortunately you have time to decide. The most important thing is to get the best marks possible and you are fortunate to be bright young women with excellent teachers. That will help you.
Senator Patrick Leahy: I have enjoyed chatting with you and now I have to go to vote. I am very proud of you and please say hello to all your friends and family for me. Patrick Leahy
Senator Patrick Leahy: Hi Ken, it is Corey again
Alburg School: thanks for your time.
Senator Patrick Leahy: I have to leave as well, but if you want to follow up with Janice, she will be available this afternoon.
Alburg School: thanks
Senator Patrick Leahy: Take care
Alburg School: bye

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