Updated: 8/12/20 - 11:34 A.M.
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY (WSKG) - Pennsylvania congressional candidate Lee Griffin held an online town hall meeting Tuesday night. The gathering was one of several online sessions he’s hosting across the 12th district. This one was for residents of Susquehanna County.
Griffin is challenging incumbent Republican Fred Keller. Keller won a special election in 2019, with more than twice the votes of his opponent, Marc Friedenberg. He won Susquehanna and Bradford Counties with about 70 percent of the vote.* Their district is the largest in the state, extending from northeastern Pennsylvania into central Pennsylvania and includes State College.
Griffin answered questions about the area’s economic recovery from the pandemic. He said the Payroll Protection Program needs improvement but it’s an important part of the recovery.
"Instead of trying to re-build a local economy or rebuild a business, if they can open their doors back up because they’ve been able to keep them opened, that gives us a leg up so we can get the economy restarted faster," said Griffin.
He added increasing the minimum wage would also help the economic recovery because it will help ensure people can pay their bills.
Griffin was also asked about schools reopening.
"It can’t just fall on the teachers to figure it out, or even the local school districts," said Griffin. "They’ll work on some plans but we need good guidance from the state and the federal government on requirements and funding to be able to meet those requirements."
Griffin said part of reopening schools should include funding to expand good broadband internet access for rural communities.
*Updated to include figures from 2019 special election.