Online Chat
Union Elementary School
February 5, 1998
[UnionElem] Hi Senator Leahy.
[PatLeahy] Good to be with you - wnet by the school just a few days ago on my way home
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Chris. How far do you think the US will have to go Militarily to convince Saddam we are serious?
[PatLeahy] He should know we are serious by now but I think he feels he can wait us out. I had breakfast with British Prime Minister Tony Blair today and it was part of the conversation.
[UnionElem] My name is Emmett. What do you like about what you do?
[PatLeahy] Sec Albright will meet with some of us in the Senate this afternoon to discuss options but it is difficult because many countries don't want to do anything.
[PatLeahy] Emmet one of the things I like about this job is being able to talk with students like you. Also every day has new things to learn - somewhat like going back to school but without the great teachers you have.
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Kyle. How old is your son Kevin?
[PatLeahy] Kyle my son Kevin is my oldest son and just turned 34. He and his wife will have a child in the next few days - a first grandchild for my wife and me. 
[UnionElem] My name is Tyler... Why did you decide to become a Senator?
[PatLeahy] Tyler I decided to become a Senator because, as a lifelong Vermonter, I felt it was where i could do the most for our state and country. I've been fortunate that Vermont has given me the opportunity.
[PatLeahy] When I ran my children were young and i knew they would live most of their lives in the nxt century and there were many things that had to be done for them and all children to improve job opportunities, education, environment etc.
[PatLeahy] You will have to excuse any of my typing errors - I hope I am a better Senator than typist.
[UnionElem] We think you're doing a great job. Hi Senator Leahy. My name is Kaley. Did you go to Union Elementary School in Montpelier?
[PatLeahy] Kaley I went to St Michael's grade school and high school in Montpelier. Most of those schools are no longer there but I was fortunate to grow up in Montpelier - and thanks for the kind words.
[UnionElem] Hi I'm Ryan. . . Do you talk to the President over the Internet?
[PatLeahy] Ryan I haven't talked with the President over the internet [I have VP Gore] but I talk with him a lot in person or on the phone. I did tell him how to save messages Chelsea sends him from college.
[UnionElem] Hi my naåme is Ryan. Do you get nervous when you talk to the President
[PatLeahy] Ryan the President is a very easy person to talk with. He really puts you at ease. All my children enjoy talking with him too and when he was in Vermont I know the people who met him really felt at ease.
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Noah. What are the most important issues to you in the Senate?
[PatLeahy] Noah it is important to balance the budget as we have so you and those in your age group don't have to pay our bills when you grow up. Nothing is more important than good education. It is a far more competitive world than when Coach Crowley and I were growing up and you need the best education possible to compete.
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Anna. How is the government going to stop illegal animal trapping ?
[PatLeahy] Anna the Vermont legislature will make the decision on that and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife authorities will enforce the law. I worked with them when I was a State's Attorney and they do a good job.
[UnionElem] Abra here... What responsibilities do you have as a Senator?
[PatLeahy] Abra there are 100 Senators for the whole country and we have to represent our state and 260,000,000 Americans when we vote on every issue from the environment to going to war in Iraq. One of the reasons I come home several times every month is to also help Vermonters with problems they may have with the government and, of cours, my staff does too - as we did in the recent ice storms.
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Erica. What made you interested in banning landmines?
[PatLeahy] Erica I saw the victims of landmines in Central America. The more I studied the issue I realized there were thousands of victims all over the world. It seemed obvious that the best way to help people would be to ban landmines and I have worked to do that in every part of the world.
[UnionElem] Hi I'm Travis. What is the government planning to do to help lower college costs?
[PatLeahy] When you see children your age who are crippled by landmines because they were playing in a field or walking on a road and got injured - when you see that I think anyone would want to help. I am proud of Vermont for all the support our state has given.
[PatLeahy] Travis the federal govt helps with Pell grants and Stafford loans. The colleges themselves have got to do better job controlling costs. Most clollege costs have risen far faster than inflation and they need ot help.
[PatLeahy] Incidentally the Stafford loans are named after Senator Stafford of Vermont.
[UnionElem] Hi my name is Alex. Who was your favorite teacher?
[PatLeahy] Alex I was fortunate to have many very good teachers in grade school, high school , college and law school. It would be hard to single out one but one person who had a great influence on me was Mrs. Holbrook who was the librarian at the Kellog Hubbard library,she got me my first library card when I was 4 and encouraged me to read a lot. Has helped me ever since as i read several hundred pages of material almost every day.
[PatLeahy] I am going to have to go back to the Senate floor but I have time for one more question if you would like.
[UnionElem] Senator Leahy, we want to make a display in the entrance of our school with signed pictures of the President, Vice-President, Representaive Sanders, Senator Jeffords and of course you. Could you please arrange that for us? Thank you for having this "town meeting" with us! We had a good time today. We hope you have a good day.
[PatLeahy] I would be happy to help with the pictures and I had a great time. Good luck in school and say hi if you see me when I am in Montpelier.
