Meuser echoes Trump’s criticisms of WHO during phone town hall

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser hosted an over-the-phone town-hall meeting on Thursday, joined by the members of the Geisinger Health System to answer questions about COVID-19 and Congress’ response to it.

While taking questions from constituents of the 9th U.S. Congressional district, Meuser, R-Dallas, also voiced support of President Donald Trump’s criticism of the World Health Organization and offered some criticism of Governor Tom Wolf’s response to the virus.

Meuser offered explanations of elements of the CARE Act, the recently-enacted law that made it possible for Americans making less than $75,000 a year to get a $1,200 stimulus check.

In response to the quick draining of the Small Business Administration’s $350 billion limit under the Paycheck Protection Program, which offered loans to small business owners during the crisis, Meuser said he hopes for a quick response from Congress. He did say, though, that he believes House leadership, like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, to add unnecessary details to what’s meant to be a “simple supplemental.”

“I’m hoping we can get a simple bill and deal with other issues after,” Meuser said. “We can’t have any junk in there that’s not related to the task at hand.”

After a question relating to governors’ role in the response to the crisis, Meuser offered some criticism to Wolf’s response, saying that, instead of creating a list of “life-sustaining businesses,” Wolf should have instead based closures on business’ ability to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control in regards to the spread of the virus.

Meuser echoed Trump’s criticism of WHO this week, with the President saying he would stop American contributions to the organization, saying WHO did not do enough to hold China accountable for failing to stop the virus’ spread.

“They should’ve been held more accountable,” he said. “They didn’t look out for the best interest of the world.

“The WHO didn’t do its job,” he went on. “We won’t get fooled again — pun intended.”

Meuser was joined on the call by Dr. Alison Brodginski, a specialist in infectious diseases working in the Geisinger system, who answered questions regarding the virus itself.

Brodginski urged Pennsylvanians to continue follow CDC recommendations regarding social distancing.

“We are still recommending you please stay at home,” she said.