South Royalton School: Greetings from South Royalton. We are in the fourth grade and have some questions for you.

Senator Leahy: I am glad we can get together. Go ahead with your questions.

South Royalton School: We would like to know what you are reading and what your favorite book is.

Senator Leahy: I think one of my all time favorites is To Kill a Mocking Bird. I am reading Freakonomics now. I had a library card in Montpelier, where I grew up from the time I was in kindergarten, and I have always loved reading. I even read Harry Potter now!

South Royalton School: What was a fear you had as child and what are you afraid of now?

Senator Leahy: I was always a bit afraid of heights, but I got over that by sky diving and paragliding. Now I only worry about doing the best job I can for Vermont in the Senate.

South Royalton School: Is it fun being a senator?

Senator Leahy: I love being a Senator because everyday has fascinating with different issues to learn and work on. You also meet very interesting people and vote on everything from protecting our family farms to the war in Iraq. There is always a new challenge. Plus, I get to spend part of the month in Washington and part in Vermont (I was home this past weekend).

South Royalton School: What do you dislike about your job?

Senator Leahy: The hours can sometimes be very long. I usually work part of every weekend and many times we are in session until midnight or later. Working long hours bothers me because it takes me away from my family. Overall, the good parts greatly outweigh the bad parts.

South Royalton School: What can be done about gas prices?

Senator Leahy: The gas prices are unnecessarily high. The oil companies have been getting huge profits by price gouging. That should be stopped. In addition, we, as Americans, have to do a much better job of conserving all kinds of energy

South Royalton School: We read about the work you have done preserving Lake Champlain. Do you believe Champ is real, or do you think he is just a "big fish"?

Senator Leahy: I don't know if Champ is real or not, but I ALWAYS look for him when I am on the lake.

South Royalton School: What was one of the best things you have seen in the underwater shipwrecks?

Senator Leahy: When I have been diving on the shipwrecks in Lake Champlain, I have always been impressed by how well preserved the shipwrecks are, especially as some of them are almost 200 years old. It is fascinating to be down 80 feet or so and touch a ship that has been there for that long.

South Royalton School: Do you think electric cars are the answer to our dependence on foreign oil?

Senator Leahy: Electric cars are just one of the answers. I think that we need all of our cars to be far more efficient.

South Royalton School: How much should a gallon of milk cost?

Senator Leahy: Milk should cost what allows a fair return to the farmers who produce it. Too often most of the profits go to the distributors and not enough go to the farmers.

South Royalton School: Do you get nervous speaking in front of large crowds?

Senator Leahy: I used to be nervous doing it, but I have gotten over it. When I was younger, I was a prosecutor and had to speak in court almost every day and that helped. It also helps to have a friendly audience. This past weekend my wife Marcelle spoke to a large crowd in Vermont and it was nice to just sit back, relax and watch her!

South Royalton School: What is your favorite thing to do with your family when you are in Vermont?

Senator Leahy: We have a lovely old tree farm in Middlesex near Montpelier. We have a lot of land and my family and I hike and swim there in the summer and snowshoe and ski in the winter. It's a lot of fun just being together.

Senator Leahy: I think we are just about out of time and I have to go back to the Senate floor now. I do hope you have enjoyed this because I have.

South Royalton School: Nice speaking with you! Thank you.

Senator Leahy: Enjoy the day - you are very bright students and must have great teachers.

South Royalton School: Thank you.