Senate hopeful Warren takes tour of Girls Inc.

LYNN – Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren spent Monday afternoon touring Girls Inc. in Lynn and getting acquainted with the program there.?What I usually tell people is I?m Elizabeth Warren and I?m running for Senate because that?s what girls do,” Warren joked with the girls.Executive Director Deb Ansourlian led Warren on a tour of the whole facility which ended with a question and answer session with eight girls from the program.One of the girls was concerned about the rising cost of college tuition and sought Warren?s opinion on the matter.Warren told the girls she only applied to two colleges because she could only afford two application fees. “That?s all babysitting money could pay for,” she said.The Harvard professor believes that more money needs to be spent on education and organizations like Girls Inc., and less money on big corporations.?We give way too much money to corporations who have already made it big,” Warren explained. “We should be spending money for our future, and that is education and schools. You are our future.”Warren also urged the girls to vote when they were old enough.?That?s the way you change things that aren?t fair,” Warren said. “If you get involved and follow the issues, you will know what candidates stand for your issues.”The girls also were curious about why Warren decided to venture into politics.?I didn?t grow up wanting to be in politics. I wanted to be a school teacher,” Warren shared.Warren did eventually become a teacher and also a lawyer. She said it was her “studying” how middle class families have been affected over the years financially that made her get into the race.?I disagree with a lot of issues with Scott Brown,” Warren said. “Sometimes, there are fights worth having.”One of the issues Warren disagrees with Brown on is his support of Sen. Roy Blunt?s (R-Mo.) amendment to the Transportation Authorization Bill. The amendment states that any employer is allowed to refuse to insure contraception or any other health service for any moral reason.This was in response to President Barack Obama requiring insurance companies to provide contraception without a co-pay.Warren said she was surprised Brown was supporting the amendment. “It is straight out of the 1950?s,” she said.?It is 2012 and we are still trying to enhance women?s rights,” Warren added.Warren also scoffed at Brown?s remarks that she has become “elite” due to her raising money from out of state and with celebrities endorsing her. Last month music icon Cher tweeted “Elizabeth Warren is my hero!”?I?m the daughter of a guy who sold fencing and ended up as a maintenance man. I?ve worked hard all my life,” Warren said. “I?ve had the chance to live the American dream and I want others to have that same chance.”Warren is also concerned about the skyrocketing gas prices.?That is one more example where the middle class is getting hammered,” she said.Warren said the country is in this problem due to its dependency on foreign oil. “For the past 30 years our country has been saying it would reduce foreign oil. Big oil companies are bigger than ever. It has to stop,” she said.Girls Inc. delighted over Warren?s appearance.?The opportunity for the girls to meet Elizabeth is really moving and empowering,” Ansourlian said.Warren equally enjoyed the afternoon.?It is wonderful to come to a center like this to see girls developing to be strong, independent women,” she said. “My heart overflows.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].