Lawless Welcomes Langevin to Race with Question: "Why have you sided with Republicans and against RI families on so many issues?"

WARWICK, RI – Jennifer Lawless, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, today issued the following statement in response to her primary opponent’s comments on Monday.

“From the soaring gas prices and the cost of health care to the war in Iraq, it is clear that our elected officials are not doing their job on behalf of working people. Unfortunately, that includes James Langevin,” said Lawless. “I agree wholeheartedly with Langevin that this campaign should not be waged on just one issue. While his efforts to take away women and families’ ability to make their own private, personal medical decisions is appalling, it’s also disappointing that he’s not fighting harder on so many issues important to Rhode Island families.

“Choice is just one issue where James Langevin does not see eye-to-eye with Rhode Islanders,” continued Lawless. “His support for President Bush’s Patriot Act, Tom Delay’s Terri Schiavo bill, and his lack of outspoken advocacy on the war in Iraq are just several examples of issues on which he is letting us down. This is a campaign to let Rhode Islanders know that they can and will do better with new leadership.”

Lawless is prioritizing many issues in her campaign for Congress, including education, jobs, health care, the war in Iraq, renewable energy, and reproductive freedom. Beyond substantive policy differences between she and her opponent, Lawless believes that even on other issues, Rhode Island deserves an outspoken leader. Langevin formally announced his reelection bid on Monday.

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