Republican Senators Urge Sweeney to Issue Preservation Letters to Health Department
Following troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21), Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40), Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) wrote to Senate President Steve Sweeney today (click here for PDF) urging for preservation letters to be issued to the Department and appropriate parties who may be in possession of evidence in matters that may be reviewed by the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee.
Following troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, Senators Kean, Corrado, Oroho, Pennacchio, and O’Scanlon urged Senate President Sweeney to issue preservation letters to the Department and appropriate parties who may be in possession of evidence in matters that may be reviewed by the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
The full text of the letter is below:
June 2, 2020
Dear Senate President Sweeney,
As you are aware, the Senate Republican caucus has called on the Senate to form a select committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the State’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, several areas of concern have emerged and highlighted the need for legislative oversight, including the unconscionable number of deaths that have occurred at New Jersey’s long-term care facilities. We thank you again for sharing our concerns and announcing jointly with our caucus on May 22, 2020 your commitment to the formation of the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee.
We write you today in light of troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, as identified by whistleblowers within the department. Among other assertions, published reports have pointed to the possible misuse of federal funds and suggested that Assistant Commissioner Christopher Neuwirth was terminated in an attempt to hide misconduct within the Administration. Additional accusations were raised in correspondence from the whistleblowers to you and Leader Kean, leading to serious new questions about the Administration’s handling of the crisis, particularly as it pertains to long-term care facilities.
Republican Senators Urge Sweeney to Ensure Protections for Disabled Residents, Provide Committee with Subpoena Power
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40), Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), and Senator Steven Oroho wrote to Senate President Steve Sweeney today (click here for PDF) urging that a recently announced Senate committee review new concerns regarding the State’s COVID-19 response to group homes and other facilities that care for residents with disabilities. They also reiterated their call for the new Senate Review and Recovery Committee to be given subpoena power to compel the appearance of witnesses.
Senators Pennacchio, Corrado, O’Scanlon, and Oroho urged Senate President Steve Sweeney to allow a recently announced Senate committee to review new concerns regarding group homes and other facilities that care for residents with disabilities, and to give the committee subpoena power to compel the appearance of witnesses. (SenateNJ.com)
The full text of the letter is below:
May 29, 2020
Dear Senate President Sweeney,
Two weeks ago, our Senate Republican caucus wrote to you calling for the formation of a Senate Select Committee to investigate the Murphy administration’s response to COVID-19, including the orders that contributed to the loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities.
We are thankful that you listened to our requests and announced jointly with Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean the formation of a bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee for this purpose. This is a positive step that will allow New Jersey to learn from its mistakes and improve our State’s response as we look to reopen safely.
Corrado: Gov. Murphy Should Let High School Graduates Walk in June
Says July 6th Date Set by Governor Is Completely Arbitrary, Not Based on Any Metrics or Benchmarks
Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for New Jersey schools to hold in-person graduations on their own schedules. Earlier this week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the Class the 2020 will be permitted to hold in-person graduations with various restrictions after July 6th.
Sen. Kristin Corrado is calling for New Jersey schools to hold in-person graduations on their own schedules. (Pixabay)
“The governor has continuously repeated that ‘data determines dates,’ but he has never explained the specific benchmarks that must be met for his executive orders to be lifted,” said Corrado (R-40.) “The July 6th date he has set for graduations seems completely arbitrary and does not appear to be based on any public health metrics or benchmarks. Also, the current restrictions on the size of permitted gatherings seems to conflict with the goal of allowing classmates to graduate together. Governor Murphy should explain to graduates and their families why graduations will be any safer on that date than if they were to take place in June as they normally do.
Kean and Corrado Applaud Go-Ahead for In-Person Graduations
Both Call for Ceremonies to be Held in June
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Kristin Corrado commended the announcement that New Jersey schools can hold in-person graduations this summer.
Sen. Tom Kean and Sen. Kristin Corrado commended the announcement that New Jersey schools can hold in-person graduations this summer. (©iStock)
“The Class of 2020 has rightfully earned their degrees and are more than deserving of a proper celebration with their classmates,” said Kean (R-21). “In the face of adversity, our graduates will experience the unforgettable moment of walking across the graduation stage and receiving their diploma. While I am pleased the governor has listened to the pleas of senior classes throughout our state, I ask that graduation ceremonies be held during the traditional timeline in June.”
Oroho, O’Scanlon & Corrado Applaud Establishment of Special Senate Committee to Review & Improve State’s Response to COVID-19
Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, and Senator Kristin Corrado applauded the formation of a bipartisan Senate Review & Recovery Committee to review and improve upon the State’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Senators Oroho, O’Scanlon & Corrado applauded the formation of a bipartisan Senate Review & Recovery Committee to review and improve upon the State’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. (SenateNJ.com)
“We applaud this bipartisan effort to learn from the mistakes that were made at the outset of the coronavirus crisis to improve our State’s response going forward,” said Oroho (R-24). “I’m especially concerned about our ability to ensure that our long-term care facilities, where half of New Jersey’s COVID-19 deaths occurred, have the capability to better protect vulnerable residents. By examining how this tragedy occurred and recommending solutions, we hope to save lives and prevent it from happening again.”
Republican Senators to Sweeney: Senate Can’t Allow Administration to Cover Up Its Nursing Home Failures
Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, and Senator Kristin Corrado sent a letter (click here for PDF) to Senate President Steve Sweeney calling for a Senate Select Committee with subpoena power to be convened to investigate the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities.
Senators Pennacchio, Oroho, O’Scanlon, and Corrado called on Senate President Steve Sweeney to convene a Senate Select Committee with subpoena power to investigate the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities. (CC0 Public Domain)
The full text of the letter is below:
May 20, 2020
Dear Senate President Sweeney,
Last week, our Senate Republican caucus wrote to you calling for the formation of a Senate Select Committee to investigate the Murphy administration’s response to COVID-19, including the orders that all but guaranteed the loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities.
Republican Senators to Sweeney: Senate Must Act to Prevent Greater Loss of Life at NJ’s Long-Term Care Facilities
Say Evidence Mounting that Thousands of Deaths in Nursing & Veterans Homes Were Preventable
Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, and Senator Kristin Corrado said the evidence is mounting that thousands of deaths in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities were preventable and called on Senate President Steve Sweeney to initiate legislative hearings to prevent a repeat of the tragedy should New Jersey be hit by a second wave of COVID-19.
Four Republican senators called on Senate President Sweeney to initiate legislative hearings into the thousands of deaths at New Jersey’s long-term care facilities to prevent a repeat of the tragedy should a second wave of COVID-19 occur. (SenateNJ.com)
“The state and nation were shocked when news reports broke of dozens of deaths at Andover Subacute, a long-term care facility in Sussex County,” said Oroho (R-24). “It’s increasingly apparent that the tragedy that occurred in Andover and at nursing and veterans homes across New Jersey didn’t need to happen. Staff at many facilities warned that they were ill prepared for an outbreak, lacking the personal protective equipment, tests, and ability to segregate sick residents necessary to keep their vulnerable populations safe. By not taking the proper precautions, the administration failed these at-risk residents. We want to work cooperatively with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to understand what went wrong with the administration’s response to help ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Corrado: As State “Revenues Fall Off a Cliff,” Murphy Admin Pays $1.35 Million in Settlements
Senator Kristin Corrado issued the following statement following reports that New Jersey taxpayers will be on the hook for $1.35 million of settlement payments resulting from allegations of wrongdoing by the Murphy Administration.
Sen. Kristin Corrado responded to reports that New Jersey taxpayers will be on the hook for $1.35 million of settlement payments resulting from allegations of wrongdoing by the Murphy Administration. (SenateNJ.com)
“At the same time Governor Murphy is warning that State revenues are ‘falling off a cliff’ and begging for a multi-billion dollar federal bailout, he’s making big payments to settle claims of wrongdoing by his administration,” said Corrado (R-40). “His mismanagement of Katie Brennan’s allegations and patronage at the SDA come at a real cost to taxpayers when they can least afford it.”
Corrado to Murphy: Class of 2020 Should Be Allowed to Walk at Graduation
Senator Kristin Corrado is requesting that local high school graduates be able to walk at outdoor convocation ceremonies.
Sen. Kristin Corrado is requesting that local high school graduates be able to walk at outdoor convocation ceremonies. (Pixabay)
“Many high school graduations are a month away. We can and should start planning to ensure the Class of 2020 can walk together while practicing safe social distancing,” said Corrado (R-40). “Our high school seniors have been stripped of their final academic semester, proms, and precious memories with their classmates. The least we can do is allow them to commemorate this milestone in person, responsibly.
“While a mask may be as much a part of their graduation regalia as traditional caps and gowns, our high school seniors have earned the opportunity to celebrate with all the pomp and circumstance.”
Corrado: Must Act on Bill to Up Penalties for Threatening to Infect Cops, Grocery Store Workers With COVID-19
Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for legislative action to advance her bill that would increase the statutory penalties for those who threaten to infect others, including police officers and grocery workers, with COVID-19 during the State of Emergency.
Sen. Kristin Corrado is calling for legislative action to advance her bill that would increase the statutory penalties for those who threaten to infect others with COVID-19 during the State of Emergency. (Flickr)
“Individuals who cough and spit on law enforcement officers while claiming they have coronavirus are frankly deplorable and disgusting,” said Corrado (R-40). “Further, even if that person is not infected, their actions may require victims to leave their jobs and quarantine from their loved ones until they are tested. If they are sick, they may actually be putting the lives of others at risk. The penalties I have proposed are an appropriate and thoughtfully strong punishment for this uncivilized and dangerous behavior. I am calling for an immediate vote on my bill that will properly punish those who threaten to infect police officers, essential workers, and others with COVID-19.”
