Online Chat
Burke School
March 28, 2000

[Sen_Leahy] Hi, I just left the floor and am glad to be with you.

[Students] hi

[Sen_Leahy] I do my own typing so please excuse any mistakes!

[Students] good afternoon Senator. thank you for your time. We saw the video, a day in the life of a Senator. You are very busy.

[Sen_Leahy] It is a busy day but every day is very exciting so I have no complaint

[Students] We have developed many questions, many of which center around violence. it is a major concern for many of us and especially since two of our former students, Taisha Beer and Scott Favreau, are being accused fo killing Taisha's stepmother. the victim was a burke resident and teacher in Lyndon. What is the Senate doing to address the level of violence in our country?

[Sen_Leahy] The Senate passed a juvenile justice bill last year, which has modest gun control in it as well as significant steps to control violence, to provide alternatives to teens and so forth. The gun lobby has convinced the Senate leadership to bottle it up in committee and it is still there. That is a tragedy.

[Students] is it likely that we will have stricter gun laws, as other modern countries do?

[Sen_Leahy] It is almost impossible to get the Congress to pass even the modest items that every one in law enforcement tell us would protect them and us. It is really wrong, and frankly, gutless on the part of some in the Congress.

[Students] Some of us think that people will use some other weapon if guns are not available, but do you think that easy access to guns is one of the reasons that the US has such a high murder rate

[Sen_Leahy] Guns are too readily available. We Vermonters can own guns with no restriction but we have a duty to each other to handle them carefully. When I was a prosecutor I prosecuted murder cases where other weapons than guns were used but I also prosecuted some where, if the gun was not so readily available , there would not have been a murder. I do not know if this is everyone's experience.

[Students] some of us think that if sme sex marriages are permitted in Vermont then they should be permitted in all states, why have rights in one state and not in another?

[Sen_Leahy] I don't think the Vermont legislature will legalize same sex marriages.

[Students] do you think that the organic foods law is good and why?

[Sen_Leahy] I wrote the organic food law and, now with the new regulations from the Dept of Agriculture, it is a good law. I think it will prove especially helpful to Vermont farmers who want to sell organic food.

[Students] it looks like we're going to have a civil union law and do you think that it should be the law of the land?

[Students] what is the most important concern facing the senate, the country in your opinion?

[Sen_Leahy] Each state has to decide what they want for marriage, or civil union, laws.

[Sen_Leahy] There are many concerns before the Senate. I am worried that the Senate has become very partisan and it hurts the country. I would like to see that change and than work together to reform Medicare, Social Security, keep our economy strong and provide more jobs thru education and other means in those parts of the country lacking jobs.

[Students] some of us think that young people need to have more to do that is healthy especially those that have moms and dads not married. can the senate do anything to help families stay together and help kids who are living between two families

[Sen_Leahy] All of us have an obligation to help children and it is especially difficult for them if there is not a family structure. No legislation can create that structure but each of us in our own community have to do more. My wife and I have worked with Boy's and Girl's clubs, with scouting and with other organizations to help children.

[Students] What is your opinion of the death penalty?

[Sen_Leahy] I oppose the death penalty and Vermont is one of the few states that does not have the penalty. I do think that , even in state's with it, they have got to do a better job making sure the person convicted is really guilty. Lately we have found a large percentage of people on death row were not guilty. Because of this many feel innocent people have been executed.

[Students] It is not a crime to threaten someone is Vermont, but it is in other states. We don't think that this is right.

[Sen_Leahy] It is a crime to threaten someone in Vermont depending how it is done. I prosecuted people for such threats.

[Students] Some of us have relatives with breast cancer, do you know why the rate is so high in VT?

[Sen_Leahy] We are trying to find out why the rate is so high for breast cancer in Vermont. In the meantime all of us in the Vermont congressional delegation have pushed for more research funds for breast cancer.

[Students] Why did you want to become a Senator?

[Sen_Leahy] I am a native Vermonter and I knew the Senate was where I could do the most for my state. It is an extremely exciting job and I love every minute of it. I have been very fortunate that my fellow Vermonters let me represent them.

[Students] Do you ever argue with other Senators?

[Sen_Leahy] I was debating on the floor with other Senators just a few minutes ago. Even tho we argue and debate most of us stay good friends.

[Students] What are some laws you voted for that you wish you hadn't?

[Sen_Leahy] Whenever I have voted for a law I thought it was the right thing to do. Sometimes they have not turned out to be as good as I thought they would be and than I have regretted them. I can think of some energy laws like that.

[Students] We have a lot of harassment of various kinds, what advice would you give to those who are harassers, and those that are victims?+

[Sen_Leahy] It would depend on what the harassment is. If it is in school you should discuss it with your teacher or principal. If it is outside of a criminal nature you should notify the police or the State's Attorney

[Students] Do you think that we will be able to travel to Cuba soon???

[Sen_Leahy] I am going to have to go back to the Senate in a couple minutes but have time for a couple questions.

[Students] Some of us would like to have part time jobs at age 14. What do you think?

[Sen_Leahy] I have been to Cuba and more and more Americans are going there. I do not think our embargo accomplishes much except to give Fidel Castro a chance to blame the USA for all of his economic mistakes.

[Students] Thank you for your time. Your answers have been very interesting and informative. Thank you again-----Burke 8th grade

[Sen_Leahy] I do not know what the Vermont law is today for those 14. When I was 14 I worked part-time in my parent's printing business in Montpelier - but school should be your most important work.

[Sen_Leahy] Great to be with all of you - your questions were most impressive and show you have great teachers and that you are very bright students.

[Sen_Leahy] Come visit me at the Senate sometime.