VPR's Bob Kinzel spoke with Sen. Patrick Leahy about his decision not to seek reelection. Leahy was also the dean of his state's congressional delegation. Patrick Joseph Leahy was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on March 31, 1940, and grew up across from the Statehouse. [193], Leahy has consistently voted to uphold Social Security and has opposed school vouchers. But there's so many. [131], In September 2022, Leahy was nominated as a representative of the United States to the Seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly.[133]. "[85][86] Leahy joked about the incident in 2007, when he escorted Bernie Sanders, Vermont's newly elected senator, to the well of the Senate where he was sworn in by Cheney: "When it comes to the vice president, it's always better to be sworn in than to be sworn at. . Have questions, comments or tips? Updates? [90] On November 2, 2004, Leahy easily defeated his opponent, businessman Jack McMullen, with 70.6 percent of the vote. And over the weekend I called a lot of people, of course I called the governor and others told them of my decision. Growing up in Vermont, your family lived so close to the state capitol that the story goes that your rode your tricycle through the statehouse halls and right into the governor's office when you were just 6 years old. [27] He ran in the wake of the Watergate scandal that had resulted in President Richard Nixon's resignation in August of that year, won a close race against Republican Congressman Richard W. Mallary, and succeeded the retiring George Aiken. Bill Exceeding New Reagan Budget Goal", "The 904 vote by which the Senate approved the ", "Senators Reject Plan for Placing MX Missile in Silos", "Reagan scorns Senate rejection of silo-based MX missile plan", "Senate Unit Starts Studying F.B.I. [121], In September 2018, as the Senate weighed the first spending package for the 2019 fiscal year, Leahy advocated for increasing the spending cap for a veterans' care program. [174], In February 2018, after the Supreme Court declined to immediately consider the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Leahy said that Congress should have acted on immigration reform the previous year, and urged Congress to act, while admitting the Supreme Court decision had reduced pressure to pass legislation quickly. . Patrick Leahy on the role of the Senate and the dangers of partisanship My office is ideally located, right near the Senate floor. Vermont Public's News CoverageGovernment & Politics | The Vermont Economy | Criminal Justice & Public Safety | Arts & Culture | Education | Health | Energy & Environment | Food & Agriculture | Series & Specials, Investigations | Brave Little State | Vermont Edition | New England News Collaborative (NENC) | VPR Archive, PublishedNovember 15, 2021 at 4:17 PM EST, Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. No. Oh, I just want to have some time where Marcelle and I can set our own schedule and do whatever we want. [154], On July 31, 2019, after Attorney General William Barr announced that the federal government would resume carrying out the death penalty, for the first time in over 20 years, Leahy, Cory Booker, and Dick Durbin introduced a bill that would ban the death penalty. More from VPR: Sen. Patrick Leahy won't seek reelection. As one of the few senators to vote against the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2006, he introduced or cosponsored numerous bills that sought to limit electronic surveillance by the government. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Create State Public Health Care Option", "Court takes pressure off already sputtering Congress on DACA", "Senators 'deeply troubled' military lawyers being used for immigration cases", "Senate Dems demand immediate reunification of remaining separated children", "FEMA says funding transferred to ICE for detention centers won't harm hurricane response", "Senate Dems introduces bill to keep DACA info private", "Senate Democrats to Trump: don't deport military families", "Senate Dems urge Trump to remain in Iran deal ahead of announcement", "U.S. He is the chamber's longest-serving member first elected office in 1974. "[107], According to GovTrack, in 2013, Leahy was the senator who has sponsored the most bipartisan bills. [10], In 1961, Leahy graduated from Saint Michael's College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. [166], In October 2016, Leahy was one of five senators to sign a letter to President Obama requesting that the administration halt work on the Dakota Access Pipeline, until the permitting process of the Army Corps could "be transparent and include public notice and participation, formal and meaningful tribal consultation, and adequate environmental review", and stating their support for the "tribes along the pipeline route in their fight against the Dakota Access pipeline project". And people are going to have to start putting aside their own immediate political ambitions and think about what's best for the country. Patrick Leahy Height, Age, Net Worth, Affair, Career, and More He said implementation of the amendment would end discrimination in the American immigration system and that seeking "equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do. It's Not Who You Think", "Leahy To Trump Administration: Don't Threaten States That Legalize Marijuana", "U.S. He rejects school prayer initiatives. [182], In February 2016, Leahy joined ten House of Representatives members asking the State Department to investigate suspected human rights violations by Egyptian and Israeli security forces, in particular citing claims of extrajudicial killings that could trigger the Leahy Law, which can cause the suspension of American military aid to countries guilty of such abuses. He underwent hip replacement surgery the next day, and had a second operation related to his hip injury on July 19, 2022. Leahy, who was born blind in one eye, graduated from Saint Michael's College in 1961. [156], Leahy has always opposed the opening and operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp,[157][158] and supported punishment of war profiteering. [127], Leahy endorsed fellow Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign. Born on March 31, 1940, in Montpelier, Vermont, Patrick Leahy was elected to the United States Senate in 1974 and remains the only Democrat elected to this office from Vermont. Patrick Leahy has been married to Marcelle Pomerleau Leahy since 1962. [65] The agreement linked the U.S., Canada, and Mexico into a single free trade zone, and was signed into law on December 8 by President Bill Clinton. [98], Leahy endorsed Barack Obama, the Democratic junior senator from Illinois, in the 2008 presidential election, and recorded a radio advertisement for the Obama campaign to be aired in Vermont. Patrick Leahy - IMDb