Plymouth School School
Thursday, February 12, 2004

Plymouth School: We're glad to be with you. All the children are ready with questions for you.
Senator Leahy: I'm back from voting and looking forward to your questions. I do my own typing so please excuse any mistakes.
Plymouth School: Dani--How do you feel about school uniforms?
Senator Leahy: Dani, I am very much in favor of local control in schools and the local school board makes that decision. When my children were in early grade school they wore uniforms but did not after the 4th grade.
Plymouth School: Naomi--Do you support the war in Iraq?
Senator Leahy: Naomi, I voted against the war in Iraq. I feel Saddam is an evil man but we had him contained. The real threat to our country is from Osama bin Laden and we should have spent more of an effort catching him.
Plymouth School: Kay--How do you feel about Iraq taking away the focus from N Korea? I believe that North Korea is just as much as a threat.
Senator Leahy: Kay, North Korea is a real threat to us with their nukes and we are not doing enough to contain them they are an example of why we need to have the help of a lot of other countries and cannot go it alone. China especially must help.
Senator Leahy: When I said No Korea I meant, of course, North Korea.
Plymouth School: Troy--What is your opinion on Tony Blair?
Senator Leahy: Troy, I have met PM Blair many times. He is a very bright and engaging person. I have disagreed with him on the war but I do appreciate the friendship he has helped foster with the United States. His friendship has caused a backlash in England but I do like him.
Plymouth School: Christian--How do you feel about the No Child Left Behind Act?
Senator Leahy: Christian, the goals of NCLB are very good. Unfortunately the Administration has declared numerous mandates and has not put the money to back them. I also disagree with a "one size fits all"
Senator Leahy: approach and voted against it because I felt it would hurt Vermont.
Plymouth School: Michelle--what was the ricin scare like?
Senator Leahy: Michelle, the ricin event was not as dangerous as many thought because of all the controls we have here. Many of these controls were put in after
Senator Leahy: Sen. Daschle and I received the two very deadly anthrax letters which killed 5 people.
Plymouth School: Adam--Do you feel we are threatened by the bird flu?
Senator Leahy: We have time for another question before I go back to the Senate floor
Senator Leahy: Adam, I don't think we are threatened here but it is a problem in Asia. They feel now that the flu discovered in the U.S. is a different variety not harmful to humans.
Plymouth School: Dakota-- Do you think Bush is doing a good job? Why or why not.
Senator Leahy: Dakota, this would take too long to answer here. I like the President personally as I do his parents. I disagree with his attempts to fracture our alliances worldwide by going it alone and disagree
Senator Leahy: with the huge deficit he has built up by taking money from Social Security. Like all Americans I know he is sincere in trying to stop terrorism - I disagree with the approach he's followed.
Plymouth School: Emily and Christy are the only two children left with questions. We will email them to you. Thank you so much for your time and thoughtful answers.
Senator Leahy: I want to thank you all for your questions. They show you are very bright students and obviously have very good teachers. Please don't hesitate to send me any follow up and Emily and Christy I will answer.
Plymouth School: The children are applauding now.

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