DeWeese calls on Hopkins to apologize for "welfare society" comment

WAYNESBURG - October 20, 2008 - Democrat State Representative Bill DeWeese called for his Republican challenger, Greg Hopkins, to publicly apologize for his comments that the 50th district is a "welfare society." Hopkins made the comment at a forum recently hosted by the Uniontown Herald Standard and Herald Standard TV.

"The people of the 50th district are hard working, salt-of-the earth folks. I don't believe we have a welfare society at all," DeWeese continued, "I think Hopkins owes the voters an apology for his remarks. I would gladly give him the opportunity to do so in a live debate, but he has turned down the chance to debate me man-to-man at Waynesburg High, Waynesburg U., and the League of Women Voters."

"It just shows you how Hopkins is out of touch with the values of our district," said Greg Leathers, Chairman of the Greene County Democratic Party. "For someone who has supposedly been campaigning across the district to come up with the assessment that we're a welfare society astounds me."

Bill DeWeese has fought for the working people in the 50th Legislative District for 33 years. He has the experience to deliver for rural communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Bill DeWeese Campaign will begin airing on network television two commercials highlighting Hopkins' lack of experience and how he is out of touch with the values of Southwest Pennsylvania.

To watch the commercials, please visit: http://www.billdeweese.com/content/page/title/Videos.

To download the Herald Standard Debate, please visit: http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20146299&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=604123&rfi=6.