What Did Langevin Say To President Trump?

Washington, DC – Cameras showed Cong. Jim Langevin (D-RI) in a friendly conversation with the president after the State of the Union. But what was he saying? Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Committees on Armed Services and Homeland Security, explained in a statement his office issued about reactions to President Trump’s first State of the Union address.

“The President spoke tonight of bipartisanship, and after the speech, I took the opportunity to personally thank him for the tone of his address," Langevin said. "I also urged him to work with me on some of our shared interests including expanding career and technical education, investing in infrastructure projects, lowering prescription drug prices, and increasing access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients."

But Langevin did not praise the president's speech overall.

“Overall, however, the President’s tone this evening must be weighed against the legacy of his first year, which was largely devoid of bipartisan accomplishments or even sincere attempts at collaboration," he said. "Rather than work together to address rising healthcare premiums and the high price of prescription drugs, the President and Congressional Republicans attempted to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, increasing uncertainty and driving costs up further. Rather than pass much needed tax reform, the President rammed through an unpaid tax giveaway to corporate America that provides only crumbs to middle-class Rhode Islanders in need of real tax relief. If the President does wish to work with Democrats and put aside the political posturing, it will mark a dramatic shift from his first year – and I would certainly welcome the development."

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