Pennacchio: Bombshell Story Proves Murphy Administration Was Warned Nursing Home Order Would Result in Outbreaks & Deaths
Nursing home administrator told Health Commissioner on recorded call: “Patients will die”
Senator Joe Pennacchio said a bombshell news report proves without a doubt that the Murphy administration was warned by nursing home administrators last year that an order forcing them to accept COVID-positive patients would result in outbreaks and deaths in their facilities.
Murphy administration officials refused to appear at an independent hearing on March 5 about their nursing and veterans home policies during the pandemic. Sen. Joe Pennacchio called for Trenton Democrats to stop blocking an investigative select committee with subpoena power to compel adminstration testimony following a bombshell new report. (NJ Senate Republicans/Facebook)
According to the story by Susan K. Livio and Ted Sherman on NJ.com, nursing home administrators participated in a March 31, 2020 conference call with New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli where they expressed their dire concerns about a new directive forcing their facilities to accept patients from hospitals and prohibiting those patients for being tested for COVID-19 prior to admission.
“Nursing home administrators were crystal clear when they told Commissioner Persichilli they couldn’t safely admit COVID-19 patients without putting their other residents at risk,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “They said COVID would spread through their facilities and people would die as a result of the dangerous order. Tragically, the Murphy administration ignored their prescient warnings and thousands of people died.”
Pennacchio/Bucco Legislation Allowing New Jerseyans to Donate Part of Tax Refund to Cancer Research Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio and Anthony Bucco that allows New Jerseyans to donate a portion of their tax refund toward cancer research and/or pediatric cancer research has been advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Anthony Bucco that allows New Jerseyans to donate a portion of their tax refund toward cancer research has been advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. (Pixabay)
“The voluntary contributions from New Jerseyans under this bill will provide support for approved scientific research projects that focus on the numerous different causes of cancer. This additional funding and support will allow researchers to investigate new cancer treatments and new ways of preventing this insidious disease,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “I would like to thank Senator Joe Vitale and the Senate Health Committee for posting, and voting on, these bills. I think everyone in New Jersey knows someone who was diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life, so this is extremely important legislation.”
Pennacchio & Corrado Frustrated by Murphy’s Pick for Assistant CEO at Menlo Park Veterans Home
Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Kristin Corrado today questioned Murphy’s selections of new leadership at the veterans home in Menlo Park.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Kristin Corrado questioned Murphy’s selections of new leadership at the veterans home in Menlo Park, where more than 100 residents died. (SenateNJ.com)
“The Governor’s bold idea for new leadership to fix our veterans homes is to bring back those who failed the first time around,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “I can’t believe that’s the best he could do.”
Pennacchio: NY Legislature Got it Right – Strip Governor of Emergency Powers
Senator Says New Jersey Should Follow Suit
Senator Joe Pennacchio today called on the New Jersey Legislature to follow New York’s lead and strip away Governor Murphy’s Pandemic emergency powers.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio called on the New Jersey Legislature to follow New York’s lead and strip away Governor Murphy’s pandemic emergency powers. (SenateNJ.com)
Murphy declared the Public Health Emergency as the COVID crisis took aim at the state on March 9, and it has been extended by executive order a dozen times, most recently on Feb. 17.
Pennacchio Warns of Impact of School Funding Cuts
In Letter to Governor, Senator Says West Milford and Jefferson Twp. Schools May Face Widespread Teacher Layoffs
Reacting to data showing that the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget would slash aid to at least two local school districts, Senator Joe Pennacchio today condemned the treatment in a letter to Governor Murphy (click here for PDF).
Deep cuts in school funding could lead to widespread teacher layoffs and the loss of educational resources for students, Sen. Joe Pennacchio in a letter to the Governor. (Pixabay)
According to documentation released by the State Department of Education, West Milford and Jefferson Township schools in Pennacchio’s 26th Legislative District will lose a total of more than $5 million in state aid.
Pennacchio Resolution Seeks Reinstatement of Federal Orders to Make Prescription Drugs More Affordable
Senator Joe Pennacchio today introduced a resolution urging President Biden’s administration to lift the regulatory freeze on orders to reduce the cost of crucial prescription drugs for Americans.
Legislation introduced by Sen. Joe Pennacchio urges President Biden’s administration to lift the regulatory freeze on orders to reduce the cost of crucial prescription drugs including insulin and epinephrine. (SenateNJ.com)
To address reports of pharmaceutical companies charging exorbitant rates for life-sustaining insulin for diabetics and epinephrine for allergy sufferers, then-President Donald J. Trump signed a series of executive orders on July 24 to decrease significantly the prices charged to the public.
Pennacchio Resolution Seeks to Put SALT Back on the Table for Tax-Weary NJ Residents
Introduces Measure Urging Congress to Restore Full Deduction for State and Local Taxes Paid
In an effort to relieve New Jersey taxpayers faced with some of the highest property tax bills in the nation, Senator Joe Pennacchio today introduced a resolution urging the United States Congress to reinstate the unlimited state and local tax deduction (SALT).
Sen. Joe Pennacchio introduced a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to reinstate the unlimited state and local tax deduction and provide relief for New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers. (Pixabay)
Until the Washington capped the deduction at $10,000, the average New Jersey taxpayer was deducting more than $19,000 from their income tax.
Pennacchio Says NJ’s Follow-the-Leader Approach to Pandemic Screams for Investigation Following NY Revelations
A published report exposing the shocking admission by a high-ranking aid to Governor Cuomo that New York intentionally withheld “the state’s nursing home death toll from COVID-19” may raise serious questions about the reliability of New Jersey’s data, Senator Joe Pennacchio said.
Almost identical letters sent by the New York and New Jersey health departments to hospitals and nursing homes less than a week apart indicate New Jersey was indeed following New York’s lead. Click to enlarge. (SenateNJ.com)
“We now know New York was playing games with the numbers to prevent the loss of life from becoming a political issue,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “In light of the New Jersey parroting New York’s policies, there has to be concern that the true extent of the crisis in our veterans’ homes and nursing homes could have also been downplayed to protect the Governor.
Senate Republicans to Launch Independent Hearings on Murphy Administration’s Flawed COVID-19 Response
Hearings Will Focus on Nursing & Veterans Home Deaths, MVC & Unemployment Failures, Destruction of Small Businesses
Senate Republicans will hold independent hearings into the Murphy Administration’s flawed response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide impacted residents and families the opportunity to share their stories and ongoing concerns.
Senate Republicans will hold independent hearings into the Murphy Administration’s flawed response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (SenateNJ.com)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean has appointed Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-26) to lead the hearings, alongside Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-40), Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), and Sen. Michael Testa (R-1).
“Since May, Senate Republicans have sought a bipartisan investigation to understand the policy and management failures of the Murphy Administration that led to preventable deaths, destroyed businesses and jobs, and left millions of New Jerseyans without access to important services and support,” said Kean (R-21). “While the Senate Democratic Majority has blocked our efforts to form a select committee to investigate these failures using the full oversight powers of the Legislature, we will move forward with independent hearings to provide people the opportunity to tell their stories and share their concerns about the State’s failed response to COVID-19.”
Pennacchio: Nursing Home Tragedies Demand Promised Committee to Investigate Entire COVID Handling by this Administration
Attorney General Investigation of Nursing Home Deaths in New York State Yields Troubling Details
The attorney general in New York State said a months-long investigation found that Governor Andrew Cuomo may have underestimated COVID deaths in long-term-care facilities by as much as 50 percent.
Copies of highlighted letters to long-term nursing facilities from both New Jersey and New York states, acquired by Sen. Joe Pennacchio, show that New Jersey’s correspondence mirrored Gov. Cuomo’s directives. Click to enlarge. (SenateNJ.com)
The revelations reported Thursday by CNBC and other media outlets raised more questions about New Jersey’s reporting of more than 7,600 lives lost in facilities, State Senator Joe Pennacchio said.
