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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


3.30.2007

 

False alarm

Some of Washington's insider crowd this week was abuzz with concern about former Senator Jim Jeffords' health after his friend and seatmate, Senator Patrick Leahy, implied in a speech on the Senate floor that JMJ wasn't doing so well in retirement up on the farm in Shrewsbury.

The remarks Wednesday came as Leahy, arguing for inclusion of a $2 million provision taked on to the military spending supplemental bill to fund an education institute at the University of Vermont that bears Jeffords' name, chided Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma for seeking to have the money deleted from the bill.

Here's the key exerpts of what Leahy said.

"Along with the leadership of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, I felt this would be a fitting way to honor Senator Jeffords' service to our country while there is still time. Clearly, Senator Coburn does not feel that way. Sadly, that is not going to happen today. I think it is a disgrace. "


"Senator Jeffords did not seek reelection last fall so he could spend more time with his family and to address ongoing health issues. I am sad to note that these health issues continue. "

"Were circumstances different, I would say that we could wait and find regular appropriations vehicles through which to fund this project. I, along with the leadership of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate, believe this would be a fitting way to honor Senator Jeffords' service to our country while there is still time."

By Thursday afternoon, I was getting calls from Washington media asking after Jeffords health. I'd heard nothing but decided to call Jim up just to make sure. "I feel fine," he told me and, if hearing his voice over the phone was any indication, he indeed sounded very much like his usual self.

Dave Carle, Leahy's press secretary, told me his boss never meant to suggest Jeffords health had somehow declined and that people were overreacting to the comments.

Still, the quotes are what they are.

Maybe Leahy was laying it on a little thick because he was so irritated with Coburn and knew that Coburn's amendment to kill the the money for the institute would eventually succeed.

-- Sam Hemingway

Comments:
What would you expect from a slimeball like Leahy? Just like him to try to hold up a military appropriations bill needed by our fighting forces to grap some more pork. Disgusting!
 
say what you want about Dick Cheney, but he sure was right on about Leahy!
 
Sen. Leahy is a career politician who knows nothing about "real vermonters".
 
Yea, shame on Leahy for trying to bring $2 million to UVM .. er ... wait ... no ... isn't that a good thing ???

Don't we want to support higher education in Vermont??????
 
Vermont is last (or close to it) in support of higher ed
 
Is that a fact because you said so? Or you have some evidence to support this foolish notion?
 
that's true. i didn't post that originally and don't have the time to find the info on it but it's true. you can check it out if you'd like to prove us wrong.
 
Can't you just picture the hydrophobic libs in Vermont screaming about the "deficit" if Senator Coburn had proposed a similar "gift" to the University of Oklahoma in "memory" of Senator Imhofe? Them libs just have no shame.
 
Actually liberals are very consistent in their support for higher education.
 
I'm glad that Leahy is such a supporter of UVM.

I wish more Senators would put education funding ahead of war funding.
 
Its wonderful Leahy is the hero now
but remember he has been there for decades - doing?????????????????
 
What's Leahy been doing?

Getting major funding for UVM, apparently.

That's a good thing.
 
I'm so glad Leahy feels the need to bring in money to the University of Not Vermont.

He'd be better off getting money for the state colleges where at least Vermonters can still afford to go to college.

I guess this is what happens when you get a swelled head from somebody naming a lake center after you.
 
Actually, Leahy has brought in TONS of federal money to the Vermont state colleges.

He's also brought in a lot of federal for Lake Champlain ... which is why they named the lake center after him. (remember Lake Champlain ... the GREAT LAKE ??)

Vermonters appreciate what he's done for the state, and they said, "Thanks, Senator!"
 
Nothing wrong with trying to get money for projects in your state - pork is everywhere. But Leahy, like Sanders, Welch, and all other libs are total hypocrits. They whine about Bush's deficit (most of which is from fighting terrorism, Katrina, etc.) but refuse to admit to the alternate - raising billions of dollars in taxes by sticking it to the little people, as usual. Already, the demo "budget" may increase taxes by 700 million, for starters. Of course, the slugs will just say "tax the rich", whcih is what keeps demogogues like Sanders in office.
 
Actually this Democratic budget is a lot smaller than the one Bush proposed.
 
Actually this Democratic budget is a lot smaller than the one Bush proposed.
 
This goes to show you what Leahy is all about. Lies, lies, and more lies...
 
Lord this debate sounds so bloody sanctimonious!

See it for the obvious.

Leahy was trying to grab a piece of (borrowed $) pork pie for his ex-Senate "colleague". They all do this. It's why we've got such a fiscal mess on our hands. And then Gov. Douglas said he was disappointed the Senate didn't go along with the appropriation? Wow. No discipline and no shame. I see very very little difference in rightousness between the GOP and the Democrats. Frankly, most of them are whores. With blinders on.
 
Here, Here!
 
Funding for education is good.

Go Pat !
 
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