Newhouse Deeply Concerned with EXPLODING Number of Covid Cases in WA

A CALLER TALKED INTO A TOWN HALL AND HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO CONGRESSMEMBER DAN NEWHOUSE:

Congress Member Dan Newhouse, on a recent small business phone town hall with constituents, opened the floor to constituents to ask him questions. One caller explained that she was a local small business owner in the healthcare field and she had a few concerns she wanted him to know about.

THE CALLER SAYS SHE WISHES REP. NEWHOUSE HAD SPOKEN UP SOONER:

The caller lamented the "terrible vaccine rates" in Legislative District 14 because it is affecting her and other healthcare workers in negative economic ways. She expressed that "small businesses are suffering because of the majority (of local residents) are not getting vaxed" and that she said she wished Rep. Newhouse had spoken up sooner about the importance of wearing face masks and getting vaccinated.

Newhouse responded that he in fact had been a strong supporter of folks getting the vaccine back when former president Donald Trump was touting his "Operation Warp Speed" initiative. Newhouse went on to state that even in recent times he "was very active in encouraging people to wear a mask to open up economy" and that he believes residents "need to make that decision (to get vaccinated) and see what options are best for them to get the vaccine."

THAT ONE TIME REP NEWHOUSE HAD FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE WITH CORONAVIRUS:

Newhouse was busy and vocal in 2021 calling for Congress to investigate the origins of coronavirus but the caller from the town hall said she wishes he had been more vocal encouraging folks to get the vaccine and mask up. Keep in mind Rep. Newhouse unfortuanately contracted coronavirus back in November 2020, so he is no doubt hyper-aware of keeping the community advised of CDC guidelines to help keep COVID-19 from spreading unintentionally. He sent out the following tweet that was covered by King5 News:

WHAT REP. NEWHOUSE RECOMMENDS FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON REGARDING COVID-19:

The Congressmember reiterated on the phone town hall his sentiments that getting a coronavirus vaccine is a personal choice and that local government officials and churches should do their part to encourage folks to practice personal responsibility regarding COVID. Newhouse says that there is a lot of public information about COVID-19 that is available and that he had a conversation with one of the Yakima County Board of Commissioners about the high rates of the unvaccinated within the county. He didn't say what that conversation consisted of beyond that, however, so that makes my nosy mind want to know what was said and by whom.

"No formal federal program (is needed) other than getting (vaccine) info in people's hands to make that decision for themselves," Rep. Newhouse said in conclusion with the caller. "Central Washington in particular, especially Yakima County needs more people to take advantage of the (latest vaccine) technology that's been made available to us."

HOW NEWHOUSE CONCLUDED THE COMMENT FROM THE CALLER AT THE TOWN HALL:

Indeed, Congress Member Newhouse. Let's hope that more residents in Central Washington will choose to vax up so that we can help keep our small businesses up and running and that healthcare workers will not be overwhelmed with more cases of COVID-19. Indeed!