St. Johnsbury Academy Online Chat
Advanced Placement American Government Class
October 31, 2007
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Sen Leahy:
hi -
i just ducked out of my judiciary meeting - glad to be with you
Sen Leahy:
glad
to be with you and i can see you - i am in my office and wonder
if you are seeing this
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Ken
Bunnell writes, about 3 weeks ago I wrote to Peter Welch, Bernie
Sanders, and VP Cheney, and you asking for a nomination to the
US Naval Academy. All of them have written back except you. Do
you plan on repying to my request?
Sen Leahy:
Ken
we have several thousand letters coming in because of the
Mukasey nomination and it has swamped us. I will find your
letter and you will get an answer this week
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Sen. Leahy used instant messenger
and a web camera to chat with students at St. Johnsbury
Academy. |
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St.
Johnsbury Academy:
Aleksei
Glinka asks: what do you think about the recent developments in
Russian-American relations as they relate to the missile deployment?
Sen Leahy:
Aleksei i am
concerned about the drift of the Putin government and our relations. I
had objected to our missile shield in eastern europe which did not help
but i think Putin has been very extreme. We have to get this relation
back on track for our safety and theirs
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Christian
Henault and Josh Bacon ask, are there any federal or state grants for
the construction of community parks and recriation areas that we might
secure for Saint Johnsbury?
Sen Leahy:
Christian and
Josh my office works with your area on such items. Usually these funds
come from the State or the local community but as you probably know i
was able to get substantial rebuilding funds for St. J after the
terrible fires.
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Hank Eaton
writes, why are you holding up the Mukasey vote in the full senate?
Should your constituents not have their representatives vote? One
committee does not represent the full view of the United States voting
populace.
Sen Leahy:
Hank no one
is holding it up and no Republican or Democrat has asked me to go
faster. Late last night Judge Mukasey sent 175 pages of answers to
questions my committee asked and today or tomorrow will send answers to
the senior Republican on the Committee. Assuming he has answered all the
questions the Republicans have asked I will schedule a vote on Tuesday
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Aj Marden
writes, what are your views on having middle school athletic programs
shuch as track and cross country?
Sen Leahy:
Aj my
children all benefited by such programs when they were in school and
still benefit. Even tho my daughter is grown and now has children of her
own she ran in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday and finished with a
great time
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Victoria and
Lizzie write, do you personnaly agree with Mukasey's opinion on
waterboarding and torture?
Sen Leahy:
i saw the
wave!
Sen Leahy:
Victoria and
Lizzie i do not agree with his view on waterboarding. It is outlawed for
our military and we would strongly object if any American was subjected
to it by another country. We should outlaw it
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Coleman asks,
what is your position on NCLB reauthorization?
Sen Leahy:
I voted
against the original bill and i have joined legislation introduced by
Senator Feingold to modify it and make the testing requirements more
flexible to reflect the needs of states like ours
Sen Leahy:
Coleman is
that you with the red shirt?
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Jah-Keem
writes, can you give us insight on your position on the FISA court: are
liberties at risk?
Sen Leahy:
nice tie too
Sen Leahy:
Jah-Keem if
we do proper oversight we will protect our liberties. That is why i want
surveillance done under court supervision and not just because any
President decides on his or her own that they want to do it
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Molly asks
what is your position on the enemy combatants case in the fourth
circuit?
Sen Leahy:
Molly I will
let the court decide that and than will comment. As Chairman of
Judiciary i don't want to act as tho i am trying to influence a court
decision. Good question tho!
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Victoria
asks, what are your views on legalizing gay marriage in Vermont?
Sen Leahy:
Victoria i
thought the Vermont legislature did the right thing in responding to our
Supreme COurt decision and enacting civil unions. As i don't expect the
legislature to tell me what to do i won't suggest what they should now
do in going further than they had.
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Brendan asks
what has been the hardest decision you have had to make as Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee?
Sen Leahy:
Brendan
unfortunately there are almost daily difficult decisions. i think the
most difficult are voting on judicial nominations because they are for
life - especially important when for the Supreme COurt
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Mia asks,
what is your opinion on prenatal testing as it relates to autism and
what are your opinions on how our general population will be affected if
there is a rise in abortions because of the general misunderstanding of
autism?
Sen Leahy:
These
questions incidentally are excellent - reflects well on all of you as
students and very well on your teachers.
Sen Leahy:
Mia there are
a lot of types of prenatal tests that are done every day. I would hate
to see someone get an abortion because they thought the child might be
autistic. We are still learning the causes and hopefully the treatment
of autism - that should be our goal
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Matt
Collins writes,
Given that the US is
ranked one of the highest in drug abuse and drug related deaths and one
of the lowest in the G7 in education, what can be done about this issue?
Sen Leahy:
Matt your
question suggests the answer. I feel our educational standards must be
constantly raised and programs of education and treatment of those with
drug problems need to be strengthened .. As a former prosecutor i know
law enforcement is only part of the answer
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Tim Lyon asks
what is your position on gun control? Should Vermont institute
background checks for potential buyers?
Sen Leahy:
Tim
background checks are now required by federal law for the purchase of a
firearm - when i have purchase a weapon i know they check data banks on
me. Vermont has the least gun laws of any state in the country and it
works for us
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Sara Gibson
asks what can be done about the lack of cell phone and internet service
in rural Vermont?
Sen Leahy:
I have time
for one more and than i have to go to the Senate floor
St. Johnsbury Academy:
The class
asks if you are a Red Sox fan?
Sen Leahy:
Sara I am in
Vermont many times a month traveling all over and i live on a dirt road
in the country in Middlesex. I find the lack of broadband and cell
service very frustrating and i have worked with many [including your
area] to improve that
Sen Leahy:
RED SOX
RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sen Leahy:
4 STRAIGHT _
can't get any better4 than that!!!!!!!!
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Good luck on
the floor
Sen Leahy:
thanks and i
have enjoyed being with you - hope you can visit down here sometime or i
may see you in Vermont
St. Johnsbury Academy:
Thank you for
your time. We hope you can visit the Academy later this coming year to
speak to us in person
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