Online Chat
Stowe Middle School 6th Graders
March 8, 2001
Stowe Middle School:
the 6th grade class is here in the audiotorium ready to go.
Senator Leahy: I just left the Senate floor and am happy to be with you. Please excuse any mistakes I
make typing - I hope I am a better Senator than am a typist!
Stowe Middle School:
Hello Senator Leahy! thank you for taking time to chat with us.
Senator Leahy: Great to be with you - are you enjoying all the extra snow?
Stowe Middle School:
in our 6th grade social studies class we have been learning about the
goverment. We
have some questions about what you do.
Stowe Middle School:
yes we like the snow.
Senator Leahy: go ahead
Stowe Middle School:
Q1- At what age did you want to become an U.S. Senator and why?
Senator Leahy: I wanted to be a US Senator for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Montpelier,
was interested in government, and knew I could do the most for Vermont in the Senate where every
state is equal.
Stowe Middle School:
Q2 - What new bills are you working on?
Senator Leahy: We are trying to extend the Dairy Compact that helps Vermont. Am also working on a
bill to make sure that we stop some of the mistakes in our criminal justice system especially in
death penalty cases.
Stowe Middle School:
Q3- What do you think about the death penalty?
Senator Leahy: I have always oppossed the death penalty even tho I was a prosecutor and prosecuted a
number of murder cases. I am also concerned that our statistics show an increasing number of
innocent people are sentenced to death.
Stowe Middle School:
Q4- What are your thoughts about the school shootings, and what do you think
should be done to prevent them?
Senator Leahy: The school shootings are terrible. As a parent and a grandparent they make me very
sad. There are no easy answers but parents need more time with their children, students have to be
more tolerant of each other, schools have to be more aware of conflicts before they erupt.
Stowe Middle School:
Q5- How many laws do you pass every day?
Senator Leahy: Even with all these thoughts we are a long way from preventing more shootings.
Fortunately most schools are very safe
Senator Leahy: Some days no laws are passed and some days a lot. Some take months of work and
many days of debate. Right now I am involved with helping to guide a major bankruptcy bill thu the
Senate. It will take into next week.
Stowe Middle School:
Q6- We watched a video about your day. Do you have any leisure time, or do you
have to work all the time?
Senator Leahy: I noticed that CNN is reporting that kids feel bullying in school is a big problem. How
do you feel?
Stowe Middle School:
It is a problem, one example is in te elem. school the 5th graders take adavantage of
the Kinder. because they are little.
Senator Leahy: I don't have an awful lot of liesure time. Often I begin around 6 in the morning
answering e-mails and go to midnight with different things [yesterday for example]. When I do get
to relax it is usually at my tree farm outside Montpelier [in Middlesex].
Stowe Middle School:
We are taking a vote.... about half the room (24) thinks bullying is a problem.
Stowe Middle School:
Q7- What do you think about President Bush's proposed tax cut?
Senator Leahy: 5th graders should not pick on smaller kids and students should let bullys know they
are not wanted or liked. It benefits no one.
Senator Leahy: I have talked with President Bush about his proposed tax cut. I think he knows there
will be some changes made. We will have some form of a tax cut but I want to make sure we have
enough money left to improve education, protect social security and to keep the strong economy
we have had for the past number of years.
Stowe Middle School:
Q8-What do you think about the education system in the U.S.? What improvments
should be made?
Senator Leahy: As we go into this century we have to put more emphasis on the best of reading skills,
more science and math and, as a nation, more of a sense of history would help. It is a very
competitive world and school will have to be harder and more extensive. You are fortunate to
have a good school and teachers but not everyone does.
Stowe Middle School:
the teachers thank you ffor the comment
Senator Leahy: I have to go back to the Senate floor in a few minutes and will have time [I'm sorry] for
only one more question
Stowe Middle School:
Q9- Even though you are a democrat, do you share some republican views?
Senator Leahy:
I work with both democrats and republicans and we often join together on bills -
especially in the high tech field. Because Vermont is so small it really is my duty to make sure I
represent all Vermonters and I do that no matter what party they belong to and no matter who they
voted for. It really is the best way and I am proud to represent all of you.
Senator Leahy: Thank you for taking the time to join me and I hope you have a great week.
Stowe Middle School:
Thank you for your time, and have a great day from the 6th grade class at Stowe
Middle School.
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