HHS Students Meet Sen. Jim Jeffords

Students in Mr. Graney's and Mrs. Small's Political Science class met with Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt), on November 13th, 2003. Sen. Jeffords is shown here with Libby Taggert and is sporting his stylish HHS winter hat. Students discussed his voting record, his leaving the Republican party in 2001, the situation in Iraq and other issues. Students also visited the Jefferson Memorial after a wonderful morning with Sen. Jeffords. More pictures, questions and quotes are below.

Photos by Jeff McEvoy, Rebecca Small and Doug Graney

Peter Coles, Rebecca Small, Sen. Jim Jeffords and Doug Graney

Andrew- Don't you think that the Defense of Marriage Act that you voted for violates the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution?

Answer- Well, sure, I guess it does.

Veeda (center) Since you seem to agree with the Democrats on most issues, why not just be a Democrat instead of an independent?

Answer- I am a Vermonter. We're and independent state and an independent people. I do what I see fit for the people of Vermont.

Bettina- Considering your political and military background, what do you think about the situation regarding Jessica Lynch and do you think she deserved to be awarded a bronze star?

Answer- Yes, of course.

Will- The Patriot Act has been getting a lot of criticism recently. As someone who used to work and sing with John Ashcroft, do you think he deserves the attacks he has been getting?

Answer- John Ashcroft is my friend, well I hope he is still my friend. But I have not talked to him for two years. Yes, he does deserve the criticism.

Brandy- How do you think Bush could improve upon his plan to restructure Iraq? Answer- I think Bush went into Iraq for the oil and to get himself reelected. I disagreed from the beginning.

Garrett- Regarding your vote against the War on Terror medals being offered for those serving in Iraq, do you think it was an important enough issue to vote No on and were you disappointed that no other senators saw the issue the same way you did?

Answer- President Bush tried to roll all the fronts of combat into one medal, to raise public support for the war. The tradition is to get a separate medal for each war.

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Lauren- In November of 1993 the senate voted to allow armed offenders 13 years or older to be prosecuted as adults. You did not vote on that bill, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this issue.

Answer- 13 is too young. Since the U.S. declares an adult at 18 and older no one younger than 18 should be tried as an adult.

Kevin- During the Clinton impeachment trial, the majority of your Republican colleagues voted Guilty, but you voted Not-Guilty. Can you explain this?

Answer- I did not think it was important enough of a reason to impeach the president. Impeachment is a serious thing and granted he lied, but it did not jeopardize the nation in anyway.

Jeanette- President Bush promoted his tax cuts to ease unemployment, yet he is hiring private contractors in place of federal employees. An estimated 200,000 public sector jobs will be cut between 2005 and 2007. What are your views on this?

Answer- I don't know. The country may regret Bush's tax cuts.

Josh- In regard to your party switch, why did you feel that your morals took precedence over your loyalties to your party and your friends?

Answer- Well, I'm here to represent Vermont, not a particular political party. When I went back to Vermont there was a poll that stated 80% of Vermonters agreed with me. I felt I did the right thing. And Vermont is a pretty independent state. If you have not been to Vermont, you have not seen an independent.

Megan- What do you think about the recent partial-birth abortion passage?

Answer- Women should have the right to choose, 100%.

Johanna- You voted for the war on terror, but then voted against giving the president the authority to use force against Iraq. Doesn't that second vote contradict the first?

Answer- President Bush very cleverly tried to link the two, but they are two separate conflicts.

Natalie- In your book "My Declaration of Independence", you wrote about requesting about $200 billion for special education funding. In light of everyone making such a big deal about the $87 billion for rebuilding Iraq, don't Republicans have a point by saying that you were asking for too much?

Answer- I was against Iraq from the start so I don't agree with spending the $87 billion to rebuild Iraq. But you can never spend too much money on education.

Kyle (shown with Libby)-What is your opinion of presidential candidate and fellow-Vermonter Howard Dean or any of the other presidential candidates?

Answer- Well I sit near John Kerry, John Edwards and Joe Lieberman in the Senate so I won't say anything bad about them. I really like Howard Dean. I have worked well with him in Vermont. But I would support any of them.

Kyle and Kelley