Online Chat
Internet Town Hall Meeting
March 23, 1995

[Moderator] Welcome Vermonters. My name is Luke Albee. I work for Sen.+Leahy. We are going to start the meeting off tonight by asking each person+on-line to introduce themselves. I will then call on one person to ask the+first question, and allow them a follow-up.

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[Moderator] JO

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[Moderator] Mr. Leonard, do you want to ask Sen. Leahy the first question?

[jleonard] sure

[jleonard] I was curious about the status of the Endangered Species law.

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[PatLeahy] One of the Texas Senators passed an amendment that actually killed+it a few days ago. There will still be debate on it and we will try to revive+it.3

[PatLeahy] I want to thank everyone for joining us on this experiment and I+hope you will excuse any typing mistakes I make - I like to think I am a+better Senator than typist

[Moderator] Mr. Leonard, do you have a follow-up?

[Moderator] If, not, Ms. Ambrose -- do you have a question for the Senator?

[Larry] help newuser

[Larry] Don't know....I'm just trying to get the irc help using /help. Anyway+I'm glad to see that somebody can see me...I wasn't sure that I was actually+on. (raw newbie here...)

[Moderator] This is either moving too slowly, or people are tongue-tied. The+floor is now open for a question from anyone on-line.

[Mattd] May I?

[Moderator] fire away .

[Mattd] To what extent do you feel we should extend the 1st Amendment into+cyberspace. In speaking with an aid of yours last year, I was told that you+are not a 1st Amendment absolutist and that the US might have a+vestedinterest in preventing the dissemination o

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[Mattd] given was article describing hacking vulnerabilities) on the+Internet.

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[PatLeahy] Are you referring to the Exon bill?

[Mattd] Sorry...that didnt' seem to come through in one piece. Yes, the Exon+bill would fall into this category.

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[jerry] Hello Senator, I would like to first thank you for your support of the+INS reorg. I thought you may be interested to learn of Mr. Schroeder's+comments and WCAX reporting of your visit with us. While he would not comment+on camara, he said we would gain peo

[Mattd] The core of the question is: is censorship attainable in cyberspace+and where do you draw the line determining which materials are a threat to+society and which ones are not?

[PatLeahy] I have already told Sen Exon I think his bill is too broad and+would hinder innovation on the internet and other areas of cyberspace.+However it was added in Committee to the telecommunications bill today. I+believe it chills free speech

[Larry] I'd like to ask about the question of corporate welfare; subsidies to+ranchers, corporate farmers, etc. Is there any way that this is going to+actually be proportional to the cuts proposed for educational television,+welfare, etc....

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[PatLeahy] Thanks Jerry. I am keeping a close eye on INS I think there numbers+are off and they want to substitute low paying jobs for high paying ones. I+don't like their plan at all .

[Moderator] We will go to Larry next

[Craig] I'd like to ask a question about support for

[jerry] They had stated that there will be a 40% increase. Well these are+temporary jobs in ST. Albans not in S. Burlington. Much smoke and mirrors on+the stats of the reorg

[Larry] Hi....Larry here from Colchester. I just typed up a message....

[PatLeahy] larry I have voted to block the so called corporate welfare that+gives people like Sam Donaldson farm subsidies while school lunches are being+cut. This will be a major battle this summer.

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[Moderator] \Larry. . . do you have a follow-up

[Larry] My followup....is there anything we as citizens can do to help in this+fight? I've already written my congresspersons! :-)

[PatLeahy] Larry the fact you wrote helps. letters to me, letters to the+editor, participating like this all help because it let's me show the other+Senators that people don't agree with these kind of giveaways.

[Larry] Many thanks! I yield the floor.... .

[ashley] May I go next?

[PatLeahy] Jerry you are right about St Alban's

[Moderator] Senator Leahy has to leave for a vote in two minutes, and will be+gone for 5-10 minutes. I think the rest of us should keep talking about+format and anything else on your minds.

[jerry] I belive your experiences with the Ag Dept should go a long way in+making this one a model for Al Gore's NPR.

[Craig] OK sounds good. I'd like to return to a moderated format where+individuals are called on to question the senator....

[Moderator] Sen. Leahy just stepped out. Can we take a minute to introduce+ourselves. My name is Luke Albee. I am the Senator;s Chief of Staff from+South Burlington. Who else is out there?

[Larry] One thing that seems weird is that some of the conversations are "one+ended". For example, I just saw a reply to Jerry.... but I never saw the+question.

[Craig] I'm Craig Donnan, Information Specialist for the College of Ag at UVM

[tj] My name is tom jones from essex junction

[jerry] I am Jerry Riordan from Williston

[Larry] My name is Larry Keyes, I'm logging in from Colchester to my account+at the University of Vermont.

[JimL] Jim Lawson, another lurker at UVM.

[ashley] I am Ashley Eastman, and I am going to Plymouth State College

[jdion] I'm Jessica Dion, a senior chemistry major at UVM.

[maustin] I am Mike Austin, a senior computer science major at UVM .

[Mattd] Matt Devost, Graduate student, Dept of Political Science. Originally+from Norton, VT..way up in the Kingdom.

[David_H] I'm David Houston, CIT Client Services Coordinator at UVM.

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[Larry] So Luke.....uh.....is this the future of town meeting?

[Craig] To comment on format, I think we should have had an intro session+prior to 6:30 to do introductions and get a feel for this...

[Moderator] Thanks everyone. Larry, I don't know the answer to your question+about "open-end" statements. We are reading all the questoins and answers+fine down here. Craig is right, we should have done intro's earlier. We are+learing as we go .

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[jerry] Consider ourselves pioneers.

[David_H] An intro is a useful addition in the future

[Larry] Luke..by what means are you connected to the Internet?

[Craig] Not wishing to be too critical, though. I like the concept and I like+the effort. It is an unfamiliar mode for most of us.

[Moderator] Larry, Senator Leahy sees this as one of many avenues to talk with+Vermonters. We have to make sure that rural areas aren't ignored on the info+superhighway, and that we just don't end up talking to bored yuppies on-line.

[David_H] I do think that this has interesting potential for "meetings"

[David_H] Particularly in the more rural areas.

[Craig] That

[David_H] It would seem a good way to put some 'oomph' into funding for those+areas

[Mattd] Unfortunately, the rural areas don't have access to the Internet+yet...

[Craig] that's a very interesting point.... dial up costs to rural areas...

[David_H] It's the yet! That's what I think this can boost.

[Moderator] We have also just established a web page for Sen. Leahy -- who I+will refer to as PJL for brevity sake from hereon -- we post statements,+speeches, ski conditions, info on tours of the White House. etc. will listen+to any good ideas for other things we ca

[David_H] I think it's also a useful way for the handicapped - with the right+software, it might be very powerful.

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[Craig] The center for rural studies at uvm is looking at radio to transmit+internet protocols.

[ashley] what is the web page address?

[maustin] of what ashley?

[ashley] of the world wide web page?

[maustin] ahh...senator leahy's web address.

[maustin] jas

[Mattd] Craig...that is an interesting idea.

[Moderator] For the record, the Senator is voting on the line-item veto --+something he opposes because of its implications for small rural states. For+the record, our web page address is:+ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/vt/leahy/general/pjl.html

[Larry] Is there anyone connected to this channel who is not at UVM? Other+than the good Senator?

[ashley] I am

[Clare] me too

[Moderator] In addition to the vote, the Senate Ag committee will quickly+caucus off the floor to vote out the nomination of Dan Glickman to be the new+Ag. Secretary

[Larry] I'm just curious regarding the geogrphical breadth of the+conversation.

[Craig] I'm dialing in from home - burlington.

[jerry] I have an external account on the UVM moose system but I am not+affilated with UVM

[Clare] I'm at brown university!

[Moderator] I have to confess -- I am a UVM grad. . . but left there without+knowing how to tyo

[ashley] I am logged on from Plymouth State in Plymouth New Hampshire.

[Mattd] I am dialing in from home as well, but into UVM .

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[Larry] So, Clare, are you telnetting to UVM?

[Clare] yeah, I am

[Moderator] PJL is now back. Ashley -- do you have a question?

[tj] I am logging in through St. Michaels.

[ashley] Yes

[ashley] I was wondering why student aid was going to be cut why not something+else?

[Clare] ashley- good point

[PatLeahy] I'm back and I just voted onon the new Sec of Agriculture's+nomination and also on a line item veto issue. Glad I am typing because I am+out of breath1

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[ashley] thank you Clare

[PatLeahy] Ashley the people who want to cut student aid also want to cut out+school lunches to pay for huge tax breaks for people in the top 2-3% income+bracket.

[PatLeahy] I intend to fight these kinds of cuts tooth and nail - let them+make cuts that really should be made like additional B-2 bombers .

[Moderator] Matt are you there? do you have a question?

[ashley] That is very good .

[Mattd] Sure, but I asked one already if someone else wants a turn...

[Moderator] How about Jessica?

[Moderator] Jim Lawson. are you there?

[JimL] Indeed, I am, but I don't have a question at this time.

[Moderator] All right . . the floor is now open.

[Craig] I'm interested in support for sustainable agriculture for vt. ag is+important and dairy is declining

[tj] May I ask

[Moderator] craig has the floor. pjl to respond

[Craig] Should I follow up my initial statement?

[Moderator] it's coming.

[PatLeahy] This week when we had the hearing on the new Sec of Agriculture I+got his committment to move forward on the Leahy law which supports organic+and sustainable agriculture. In Vermont there is no question we have to+diversify. Even tho we produce more milk

[PatLeahy] than 10 years ago we have less dairy farms.

[Moderator] craig, do you have a follow-up

[Craig] Yes...

[Craig] I'm curious how the senator sees his role now that he has left the+chair of Ag committee....

[Craig] I guess I mean your objectives and goals in the new position....

[PatLeahy] I am still the Ranking Member on the Ag Committee and will handle+most of the nutrition issues and, of course, all the forestry issues+concerning the Green Mountain Nat Forest.

[Craig] Great....glad you have influence there! I was unaware of your+status...

[PatLeahy] There are a lot of battles to be fought as we saw on the INS issue+earlier, will still fight to ban land mines and on issues that protect the+1st Amendment.

[Moderator] the floor is now open

[ashley] I was wondering if people are going to have to work for welfare or if+they already have to?

[Larry] I find this medium highly interesting....however, how do we *know*+that we are actually talking to the Senator? You know the old saying...."on+the internet noone knows you're a Senator..."

[tj] I feel that the current congress has been less than honest with the

[tj] American people about the real cost of balancing the budget. No

[tj] one on the hill wants to expressly commit to what can and needs to

[tj] be cut or, even, how this can be done, and the true current and

[tj] future costs these decisions will exact. Would you like to address

[tj] this current atmosphere of reality avoidance that appears to be in

[tj] vogue about balancing our budget?

[Moderator] pjl will repond to Larry; then ashley2 PaulMann (+i) on #townmeet * type /help for help

[PatLeahy] Good question Larry but everyone will vouch for me here- I just+asked someone to get the Poloraid so we can post it! Besides I'm haveing so+much fun I wouldn't let anyone else fill in for me!

[Moderator] pjl will address the budget question

[PatLeahy] tj-the balanced budget amemendmt was smoke and mirrors - the people+who talk the loudest about it don't want to really do anything. We need real+legislation like the Leahy-Lugar bill that actually saved $3-5 billion .

[Moderator] ashley, pjl will now address your welfare question. then mike+austin

[PatLeahy] Every one of the welfare plans has a work component in it. The most+important thing is to have jobs available and to have child care available so+people CAN work.

[maustin] What do you feel about reduction in the capital gains tax?

[PatLeahy] Larry they just took a photo of this setup - if there is not too+much light reflected from my bald head we'll post it on our web page

[Moderator] mike, he will now answer about capital gains

[Clare] whats the web page address again? sorry I didnt get it before.

[maustin] ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/vt/leahy/general/pjl.html

[PatLeahy] The latest capital gains tax will lose $32 billion and the House+Republicans pay for it by cutting out school lunces etc. The average+Vermonter would lose things like student aid and lunches and gain about+10cents a year. Lousy idea I think

[Moderator] ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/vt/leahy/general/pjl.html

[Moderator] mike a follow-up?

[maustin] sure ...

[PatLeahy] I meant 10cents a week

[Clare] thanks

[maustin] In 1980, the tax was reduced. Every year until 1986, the amount of+money brought in by the tax increased to a high of around $50billion .

[maustin] In 1986, in was raised (the tax) and the amount brought in per year+has decreased every year since.

[maustin] ... to around $26 billion?

[maustin] (done) :)

[maustin] any idea why?

[Moderator] mike, he is following up. .. then Matt

[PatLeahy] I know that in the short term any capital gains tax makes money -+but the Reagan tax cuts coupled with a huge military expenditure ended up+quadrupling the national debt in 8 years.

[Moderator] Matt?

[Mattd] Do you think it is time to abolish regulations outlawing the+exportation of encryption technology?

[Moderator] PJL is responding

[PatLeahy] I am opposed to the Administrations plan on Clipper chip and was a+main force in stopping them during the last Congress. As a practical matter+most of the export restrictions don't make sense as the encryption technology+is available overseas

[Moderator] Matt-- follow-up?

[Mattd] Okay, then what can we do to put an end to current regulation?

[Moderator] after Matt we have 4 minutes left. the floor will be open.

[PatLeahy] We are at a stalemate. Even if we passed legislation to change the+regs the Administration would veto it. I'll keep workihng to change their+minds. This also may need international agreements as our main trading+partners have restrictions on encryption tec

[jerry] What are the chances of Davis-Bacon Act being repealed ?

[Larry] Here's a parochial question...As you probably know, we are looking for+federal assistance(grants) for the renovation of the Old Mill complex at UVM.+Do you hold out any hope for receiving federal help given the current+climate?

[Craig] Another big concern is telecommunication infrastructure for rural+areas of vt. Fiber is not going to the NE kingdom. I missed the conference+held at st. mikes on this topic. Solutions? Money?

[ashley] Thank you for inviting me to participate in this. I enjoyed asking+questions. If anything like this happens again I would like to be involved

[Moderator] jerry first.

[PatLeahy] There will be an effort to repeal it in this new Congress. If it+was repealed the President would veto it.30

[Clare] This was fascinating, and I enjoyed reading if not answering+questions..

[Clare] I'd like to be in on it again, and maybe a little more prepared if it+does happen again!1

[Moderator] PJL will answer Larry's question on Old Mill. Then he will sign+off. I will stay on to give you an adress for commenting on tonight's+meeting.

[PatLeahy] I have really enjoyed this and am now going back to the Senate+floor where we will be debating the line item veto for the rest of the+evening. Thanks for being here. Pat Leahy

[maustin] Thanks for being here Senator. Hope to hear from you again soon.

[jdion] jdion has logged on :0 from local.

[jdion] jlawson has logged on ttyp1 from helplinemac

[jdion] maustin has logged on ttyp4 from helplinepc

[Larry] Many thanks for trying this out. Go get 'em on the line item veto!

[Craig] thanks pat for trying the new technologies...great to talk to you...

[jerry] Nice chatting with ya all.

[ashley] good to talk to all of you.

[Moderator] We really appreicate everybody being there. My internet address+is Luke_Albee@senate.leahy.gov. Please e-mail me and let me know your+thoughts on how we can improve tonight's format. Thanks again.