Indiana Congressional Delegation holds virtual coronavirus town hall

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Indiana's Congressional team now has a better grasp on which direction to go in the Federal government's response to the Coronavirus. Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun and Representatives Andre Carson, Jim Banks, Jackie Walorski, Larry Bucshon, Greg Pence and Jim Baird took questions from constituents during a virtual town hall that was hosted in Indianapolis.

"I think people will enjoy hearing what we're all doing right now," Representative Walorski said before the town hall. "What are we doing while we're at home? What are we doing as far as the accountability and transparency of all that money that we're moving from the federal government, tax money, money that we are all very accountable for. I think that folks know that we have an absolute right to know that we're here, and we're making sure that we get our share of things like the national stockpile with PPE and to make sure that we're holding the federal government accountable for using the tax dollars that we're using right now."

During the town hall, each member of Congress emphasized their desire to start reopening Indiana's economy.

"Hoosiers all  the way across the district, all the way across the state are starting to say 'I want to get back to work. I want to educate my kids. I want to go back to church. I can do those things safely. I will find a way to do those things safely,' but they expect to get back to  their way of life as quickly as possible."

Republican Senator Mike Braun said he wanted Congress to keep politics out of its coronavirus decisions, but that did not stop everyone from addressing party politics.

"For some reason, the Democrats don't want us to go back," said Representative Greg Pence. "Now, we've got doctors. We have nurses. We have grocery store, c store workers. Everyone is out there working, but I guess the House of Representatives doesn't have to go back and work and figure these things out."

Representative Andre Carson, the only Democrat who participated in the town hall, said he wanted the federal government, in particular the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to do more for poor people impacted by the pandemic because what it has done so far is "not enough." Carson said that "it's never enough" and that "more money can always go towards the homeless."

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will announce his decision Friday on whether to extend his stay at home order or let it expire this weekend. THe members of the delegation were asked if they think Governor Holcomb should let the order expire and allow Indiana to slowly re-open its economy. They all raised their hand in agreement except for Andre Carson who said he'd want to get medical officials' opinions first.