Mettawee Community School
Online Chat With Fifth Graders
April 23, 2008
Sen Leahy:
Hi - I am back. Was just telling the
staff here about when I was State's Attorney and worked with Bob Graf
when he was in the Legislature. Small world!
Mettawee Community
School: Mrs. Ahlfeld, Librarian,
Mrs. Mark, Principal, Mrs. Roberts and Ms. Thomas: Thank you so much
Senator Leahy for this opportunity. Mrs. Roberts is happy to hear about
her father's connection to you!
Sen Leahy:
Thanks and Mrs. Ahlfeld i also knew
Sen Lawrence years ago
Mettawee Community
School: That is wonderful to hear
Senator Leahy. We are ready with our questions whenever you are.
Sen Leahy:
go ahead
Mettawee Community
School: Frances and Brianne: when
did you want to become a senator?
Sen Leahy:
Frances and Brianne - i was born in
Montpelier and living near the State House and i think i was always
interested in elective office. When I was a law student in Washington I
spent a lot of time at the Capitol and realized this is the one place
where Vermont is equal to all states and i knew i really wanted to be
the U.S. Senator for Vermont
Mettawee Community
School: James, Ronnie, Breauna,
Olivia and Truman: Why did you want to become a senator?
Sen Leahy:
James, Ronnie, Breauna, Olivia and
Truman - I knew I could do the most for Vermont in The U.S. Senate and I
am proud that the Leahys have been in our state for 150 years and I
thought this is the best way to give something back to Vermont
Mettawee Community
School: Luke: how did you become
a senator?
Sen Leahy:
Luke - I was the State's Attorney of
Chittenden County in Burlington but you have to be 30 years old to be a
Senator and when I turned 34 I ran for the Senate. It was an interesting
race and it helped that I had thousands of Vermonters of both political
parties who volunteered for me
Mettawee Community
School: Taylor: what committees
are you part of in Washington?
Sen Leahy:
Taylor I am the Chairman of the Senate
Judiciary Committee. I am also a senior member of the Appropriations
Committee and chair one of its subcommittees. I am also on the
Agriculture Committee.
Mettawee Community
School: Zeke and Andrew: Is your
job easy? and do you like it?
Sen Leahy:
Zeke and Andrew my job sometimes
starts very early in the morning and goes past midnight [and most of my
staff work very long hours] but it is so interesting i hardly notice the
hours. I get to be involved in hundreds of different things and meet
very interesting people - and still get to fly home to my home in
Vermont very often
Mettawee Community
School: Thano, Nora and Branden:
What is your favorite part of your job?
Sen Leahy:
Thano, Nora and Branden - I really
like seeing fellow Vermonters when they visit Washington. If you look on
my website you will see nearly a 100 who visited with me early yesterday
morning
Mettawee Community
School: Stirling and Osmar: What
are your days like as a Senator?
Sen Leahy:
Stirling and Osmar I read literally
hundreds of pages of material every day. This morning I chaired a
hearing looking into FBI practices and will have meetings this
afternoon. This evening we will vote on Veteran's benefits. Those votes
will start around 6PM and probably go all evening
Mettawee Community
School: Brian and Justin: How
many places have you traveled to and what is your favorite part of the
US?
Sen Leahy:
Brian and Justin my favorite place is
being on my family tree farm in Middlesex Vermont. I have traveled all
over the world and I think the two most amazing places were the South
Pole in Antarctica and Tibet
Mettawee Community
School: Lindsey, Kendra and
Walker: What is the hardest part of your job or what are some problems
you have run into?
Sen Leahy:
Lindsey, Kendra, and Walker I have
voted almost 13,000 times since I came here. Some of the votes are very
difficult especially when half of Vermont might be on one side and the
other half on the other side and I have to decide what is the best
position to take
Mettawee Community
School: Anna: what was your
occupation before you became a Senator?
Sen Leahy:
Anna when i was in college I worked in
my family's printing business. After law school I was in private
practice [I believe I was the youngest lawyer in the state at the time]
and after a few years became the prosecutor in Chittenden County Vt
Mettawee Community
School: Shelden and Brianna: who
do you think will win the election for President?
Sen Leahy:
Shelden and Brianna I DO wish I knew
the answer! I have supported Senator Obama but I think right now it is
too close to tell
Mettawee Community
School: Micheal: Why do you think
Senator Clinton should step down from the Presidential race?
Sen Leahy:
Micheal - especially after Senator
Clinton's win last night she will not step down from the race and
neither I nor anyone else will expect her to unless she were to lose
some major states. Right now it is possible that the nomination won't be
decided until the convention in August
Mettawee Community
School: Le Ann: realistically and
honestly, when do you think our troops in Iraq will be withdrawn, no
matter who is elected?
Sen Leahy:
Le Ann - the troops should not have
been there in the first place. Logistically it would take months to get
them out even if the decision was made today. Senator Obama and Senator
Clinton seem more committed to getting them out soon than Senator McCain
does but, until we make it clear we are leaving, Iraq will not spend the
money or effort to control their own destiny
Mettawee Community
School: Senator Leahy, we have a
student here who remembers meeting you several years ago as a
kindergartner who got second place in the Race for the Cure. She wants
to say hello. Her name is Nora Lindberg.
Sen Leahy:
I am going to have to leave for a
meeting very soon but i do have time for one more question - it is
obvious that you are good students and have great teachers. Nora
Lindberg thanks for saying hi and i am glad you did so well in the Race.
My wife is a cancer survivor and we support efforts to combat all kinds
of cancer
Mettawee Community
School: Senator Leahy, those were
all the questions we had. Our timing is perfect! Thanks so much the
chat and all you do for our state and country. The Mettawee School
Sen Leahy:
Thank you and again I am very proud of
both the students and the teachers.
Mettawee Community
School: Thank you so much. Have a
great day. Signing off...
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