Online Chat
Colchester Middle School
May 15, 2001

Senator Leahy Hi, glad we are on now.

Colchester Middle School 1 As you might know we have many new citizens coming into Vermont for work. How are we as Vermont citizens helping them succeed in their lives?

Senator Leahy I feel like I am a member of this class after all these years!

Senator Leahy The best thing we Vermonters can do is to make sure there are a lot of jobs available. As you know in Chittenden County there is very low unemployment but we need to extend that throughout the state. When I was a child Vermont was basically depressed with half the population it has now

Colchester Middle School 2 Hello my name is Sara, as you may know a majority of Americans support the decision to let survivors and victim’s relatives watch the execution of Oklahoma city bomber Timothy McVeigh. do you agree?

Senator Leahy We have added population, jobs and prosperity for much of Vermont

Senator Leahy Sara the relatives and survivors should be able to watch if they want and thye will be able to by closed circuit TV. If I was in that situation I don't know what I would want. Incidentally many feel it would be a greater punishment for McVeigh to spend the rest of his life in a small cell in maximum security instead of making him a martyr to his followers by executing him.

Senator Leahy Excuse the typos - I am trying to type as fast as possible.

Colchester Middle School 2 I agree

Colchester Middle School 1 I agree!

Colchester Middle School 3 Hi, my name is Elizabeth. Do you think that schools should start to wear uniforms?

Senator Leahy Elizabeth that is a decision each school has to make. it is not something that should be mandated by the federal government. When my children were little the school they went to in Burlington required uniforms - it made it awfully easy getting ready for school!

Colchester Middle School 1 Hi I'm Karissa, What is going to happen to Jose A. Rodriguez who was in the prostitute ring? What about the teen girls?

Senator Leahy Karissa I used to be a prosecutor. If I was prosecutor, and assuming the facts in the press are correct, I would want to charge him with everything possible and hope he spends forever in jail. I think these teens who went into prostitution for a drug habit are more victims than anything else.

Colchester Middle School 2 As i was reading the newspaper I came across a article telling about the act 60 revision, do you think you are going to pass something before you're done as Rivers promised?

Senator Leahy I am not in the Vermont legislature so will not be involved in anything to do with Act 60. I know the new Speaker of the House said there would be revisions when he ran last year so will watch to see what they do.

Colchester Middle School 3 In the newspaper I saw that April 20th was known as 4:20, and on this day a group of people were allowed to smoke pot, and I was just wondering why they are allowed to do it if it is illegal.

Senator Leahy Brittany the prosecutors and the police always have to decide whether an act, even if illegal, deserves prosecution or arrest. e.g. going even one mile over the speed limit is technically against the law but they don't arrest for it. I think legislatures and the Congress will be deciding in the next few years whether our marijuana laws need revision.

Colchester Middle School 1 Hi, I'm Jackie.  I have a question totally off subject?  What are your opinions on the circ highway?  I am totally opposed to it.  it will be going right below my house, i almost had to move.  Where there once was a nice sand pit and awesome woods (excellent for forts) there will now be pavement.  Also a 200 year old farm will all of a sudden be dead.

Senator Leahy Jackie there are few highway projects in Vermont as controversial as the circ highway. I don't know what the governor and the legislature will ultimately decide but the people in the area affected should have the strongest voice in that. If the people of Vermont say they don't want it should not go forward. At the same time everyone in central Chittenden county knows we need to do more to handle the increased traffic.

Colchester Middle School 2 Hi, my name is Ashley.  What do you think about abortions? Do you think the daughter should tell her parents or the person giving the abortion?

Senator Leahy Ashley I wish there would never be another abortion but I know passing laws against abortion does nothing to stop it but only encourages the back alley abortionists some of whom i prosecuted years ago. If I had a teenage daughter who considered an abortion I would hope she would tell me but i know no law would compel her to.

Colchester Middle School 3 What can the government do about the high gas prices?

Senator Leahy Brittany we have to encourage more conservation of energy, more development of alternatives like wind and solar and gasification so there will not be so much demand. Some have said we should drill in the Artic Reserve but I oppose that as it would really do nothing to decrease demand. I also think we should look at the sky-rocketing profits of the oil companies. I hate to continue sending my money from Vermont into the pockets of a few Texas oil companies.

Colchester Middle School 1 we are right now studying the slavery in the US.  Even now, there are prejudice people, not only towards Americans of African decent but also people of certain religions, also people who are gay.  I my self don't even believe in god, and my aunt is gay, so i can't really be prejudice, and I don't want to.

Senator Leahy Time for one more and I have to go back to the Senate floor.

Colchester Middle School 2 What are you eating for lunch? Is it yummy?   =)  @-}-}--

Colchester Middle School 1 Karissa and Jackie say thank you!

Senator Leahy I was brought up in a family that considered prejudices of all kinds to be morally wrong - and I still feel that way.

Colchester Middle School 1 everyone says thanx for your time

Colchester Middle School 2 Thank you for your time we appreciate it very much.

Colchester Middle School 1 it was really awesome of you

Colchester Middle School 2 What was it that you had for lunch??

Colchester Middle School 2 was it good

Senator Leahy I am very proud of all of you and of your questions. It shows you are really good students - and obviously have very good teachers. Unfortunately my schedule is so tight today I probably won't get lunch but i had a great breakfast. Enjoy the day