Tom Malinowski thinks everyone should be like Mike Pence – in some ways at least.

Malinowski began a telephone town hall Wednesday evening referencing news reports of the vice president visiting the Mayo Clinic the other day without a face mask.

Pence explained to reporters that he is tested frequently for COVID-19 and does not have the virus. Health experts say the main value of the mask is to prevent those who may be infected with the virus from spreading it.

“Everyone should be able to say that,” Malinowski said, regarding the vice president’s ability to get routine tests.

The congressman said there are now drive-in testing sites throughout his 7th District, but that the only ones tested are those with symptoms of the disease.

He said that has to change and that testing capabilities across the state have to be drastically increased.

Gov. Phil Murphy has linked more testing with ending the current lockdown, a point reinforced by Malinowski who said, “One way or another, we’re going to open. We have to do it safely.”  He said more tests can help facilitate that.

Regarding money, one caller referenced various stimulus bills and told Malinowski he was concerned that the country is just “printing money.”

The congressman didn’t necessarily disagree, but he said, “If we weren’t doing it, we’d be going into a Great Depression.”

And he said that every economist he has talked to says the current approach is better than doing nothing.

In a related fiscal matter, Malinowski said he’s a bit more optimistic that upcoming funding relief bills will include money for state and local governments.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader, caused a ruckus a few days ago when he said it may be preferable for states to just go bankrupt instead of getting money from Washington.

But as of Wednesday, Malinowski said McConnell appears to have changed his mind on the issue.

It’s been an eventful few days for Malinowski.

On Monday, he appeared at Murphy’s daily briefing and joined with the governor in criticizing McConnell. That prompted harsh criticism from Republicans that Murphy and Malinowski were playing politics at the wrong time.

The response was a bit puzzling, given the fact both Cory Booker and Andy Kim had appeared at previous briefings without any GOP condemnation. Malinowski, of course, has a tough reelection fight, but so does Kim.

Just for the record, the state Democratic Committee fired back, accusing “Trenton Republicans”  of refusing to stand up for New Jersey against McConnell and Donald Trump.

Politics and the pandemic, perfect together.