U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack may not be seeking re-election this year, but he is still continuing with his Coffee with a Congressman tours.

Loebsack visited with constituents at the Washington Hy-Vee on Saturday morning.

The Democratic congressman discussed the latest news on the spread of the coronavirus.

“I was at a rather contentious hearing Friday on the coronavirus,” Loebsack said. “I can understand that we don’t want to start a panic, but it’s crucial to get some accurate information out.”

He expressed concern that President Donald Trump referred to the coronavirus as a “hoax” at a Friday night rally.

“I don’t see how the administration can call this a political hoax,” Loebsack said.

He pointed out the effect that the virus could have on the worldwide economy.

“In Japan, they’re not sending kids to school right now, and workers are staying home,” he said. “The ripple effects of that could be dramatic.”

On other matters, Loebsack said he recently spoke with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency about the ethanol waivers that had been granted to refineries, hurting Iowa farmers whose crops are used to produce ethanol.

Loebsack said that a federal appeals court had ruled that the waivers were illegal, and he wanted to know what the EPA was doing.

“I spoke to the EPA director about the appeals court ruling, and he told me they are still going over the court documents,” Loebsack said.

As his final term winds down, Loebsack said that he is still working on getting a bill passed that expands rural broadband.

He explained how broadband is becoming more and more important to farmers.

“Farmers need broadband for precision farming,” he said.

When asked if he would consider changing his mind about not running for another term, Loebsack joked, “When I’m asked that question, I give them my wife’s number and tell them to talk to her.”