absstudents2: Good afternoon Senator Leahy. How is the weather in Washington? We are having a beautiful fall day here.
absstudents2: Are you ready for our first question?
Sen Leahy: I have just joined the chat. The weather in Washington is nice but I am in VERMONT! I will go back to Washington this afternoon and come back to Vermont later in the week but wanted to have this chat before i left. It is beautiful
Sen Leahy: where i am in Vermont
Sen Leahy: Ready for questions - I do my own typing so please excuse any mistakes
absstudents2: Ditto
absstudents2: How did you become interested in politics? What did you study in school that prepared you for this career?
Sen Leahy: I was born in Montpelier so was used to seeing all those involved in politics. I majored in history and political science in college and went to law school in Washington DC. After private
Sen Leahy: practice in the law i became State's Attorney of Chittenden County Vermont
Sen Leahy: Are there any of you who would like to be a Senator when they are old enough?
absstudents2: If reelected, how long do you plan to stay in the senate? Is there another job you would really liike to do?
Sen Leahy: I have two more years on this term and will decide next year if i will run again. When i leave the Senate I would like to write, teach and practice law
absstudents2: Sorry about the jump in questions? Some of us are interested in politics.
Sen Leahy: I'm interested in politics too and the questions are really good ones.
absstudents2: We know that you are head of the Judiciary Committee. Can you tell ys what you do to tell if a person is
Sen Leahy: If a person is qualified to be a judge?
absstudents2: qualified to be appointed judge? Are there otherduties of that committee?
Sen Leahy: If someone is nominated to be a federal judge the job is for life. I dont care if the person is a Democrat or Republican but I have to be convinced they will not be an idealoque
Sen Leahy: and they will treat everyone fairly
absstudents2: What are you doing in the Congress that will help the V ermont economy? We have a hard time balancing jobs and rural life.
Sen Leahy: Our Judiciary Committee also has to oversee the FBI, the Attorney General of the United States, the immigration service and budgets of many billions of dollars every year
absstudents2: Wow the FBI sounds like a huge responsibility!
Sen Leahy: I have brought thousands of jobs to Vermont over the years and am continuously getting grants for rural areas. Unfortunately Vermont is feeling the effects of the national economy. I wish their
Sen Leahy: was more effort to improve the national economy because it would help us in Vermont
Sen Leahy: The FBI is an important responsibilities especially with some of the problems finding terrorists.
absstudents2: How often do you get back to your hometown in Vermont? How do you keep up with what the people of Vermont think about national issues?
Sen Leahy: I am in Vermont about 10 days a month. Some times like this week I will go back and forth a couple times. Every day I get a brief of all the news items in Vermont from the papers and TV
Sen Leahy: and I read many of the thousands of e-mails and letters I get from my fellow Vermonters every week.
absstudents2: Tell us about your vote on the resolution to back President Bush if he decides to attack Iraq. When is it important to vote your conscience instead of going along with others?
absstudents: I'm PROUD of you for standing up against this resolution. Where were the other Democratic voices? (This is from an adult)
Sen Leahy: I studied the Iraq situation for a long time. I know the President wants to protect this country but I did not feel the case was made for us to give him a blank check on Iraq
Sen Leahy: The Congress did this in Vietnam with the Tonkin Gulf resolution and I always thought that was a mistake. In the Senate all the votes but one opposing it came from Democrats. This is not a partisan issue but many made it one.
absstudents2: Tell us what you do ona typical day when the Congress is in session.
Sen Leahy: I usually get up very early 5-6 and read the e-mails sent me overnight/ When i get to the office I go thru briefing material for the day and usually go to a couple hearings or committee meetings. If there are votes on the floor
Sen Leahy: I have to go there for the votes [on a roll call you have to be physically on the Senate floor]. I will meet with as many Vermonters as I can if they are in Washington. Sometimes there will be meetings at the White House with the
Sen Leahy: President and sometimes meetings in my office with other Senators or govt officials. Sometimes there are events I have to go to in the evening but I usually try to save the evening to get caught up on reading. Usually check my compu
Sen Leahy: computer for the last time around midnight and than go to bed
absstudents2: Thank you very much for chatting with us. We have been learning about state and federal government so this really helps us. We also had a state representative visit and answer questions. We hope you have a wonderful week!:-)
Sen Leahy: I should mention that while this sounds like a long day it is very interesting and I do enjoy it when someone from home comes and follows me around. Especially enjoy it when members of my family can be there.
absstudents: Thank you very much for your time. ABS
absstudents: We are happy that you are our Senator.
Sen Leahy: I am looking forward to getting back to Vermont at the end of the week. Your questions are excellent and I hope I can visit your school sometime. Have a great day and enjoy the foliage!8-)