Sussex Watchdog: County Wants Murphy Nursing Home Investigation

NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli

NJ Governor Phil Murphy feeling more heat about his alleged mishandling of Covid-19 and nursing homes. Placing infected patients into long-term care facilities resulting in a deadly spread among our most vulnerable.

Over 8,000 New Jersey residents dead.

Sussex County Board of Commissioners want an independent investigation.

A public question could be on the November ballot in Sussex County. 
 
REQUESTING INDEPENDENT, PUBLIC, BI PARTISAN LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES, REGULATIONS, AND OVERSIGHT OF NEW JERSEY’S LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES (NURSING AND VETERANS’ HOMES) REGARDING DEATHS FROM COVID-19 OF MORE THAN 8,000 RESIDENTS OF SAID FACILITIES. 
 
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of New Jersey has made it his policy to centralize all government authority within the executive branch through the use of executive orders, which directly impacts the operations and authority of elected county and local governments; and 
 
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of the State of New Jersey issued Executive Order 103 declaring a Public Health Emergency in New Jersey as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and 
 
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, a directive from New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli informed hospital and nursing home administrators that patients could not be denied admission to post acute care facilities because of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The directive specifically reflects: 
 
[“On March 9, 2020 Governor Philip D. Murphy issued Executive Order No.  103, declaring a Public Health Emergency in New Jersey as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to respond to the increase in positive cases there is an urgent need to expand hospital capacity to be able to meet the demand for patients with COVID-19 requiring acute care. As a result, this directive is being issued to clarify expectations post-acute care settings receiving patients/residents returning from hospitalization and for accepting new admissions. 
 
The New Jersey Department of Health directs hospital discharge planning staff and post-acute care facilities to carefully review this guidance with all staff directly involved in patient/resident admissions, transfers, and discharges. 
 
… all post-acute care settings must comply…
 
No patient/resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the post acute care setting solely based on a confirmed diagnosis of COVID 19.
Persons under investigation for COVID-19 who have undergone testing in the hospital shall not be discharged until results are available. Post-acute care facilities are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized patient/resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission.”] 
 
; and 
 
WHEREAS, as a possible result of this policy by the Governor of the State of New Jersey and his agents, to date more than 8,000 residents of the State’s long term care facilities (nursing and veterans’ homes) have died from COVID-19; and 
 
WHEREAS, long-term care facilities within Sussex County suffered a high rate of death from COVID-19; and 
 
WHEREAS, long-term care facilities within New Jersey suffered the highest rate of death from COVID-19 in the nation; and 
 
WHEREAS, attempts to obtain public information have been repeatedly blocked by the administration of Governor Murphy; and 
 
WHEREAS, calls for an independent, public, bi-partisan legislative investigation into the governmental policies, regulations, and oversight of New Jersey’s long term care facilities (nursing and veterans’ homes) regarding the deaths from COVID-19 of more than 8,000 residents have been ignored; 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Sussex as follows: 
 
1. The Board of County Commissioners of the County of Sussex hereby requests the Sussex County Clerk to print on the official ballot to be used in the General Election to be held on November 2, 2021 the following public question on which the qualified voters of the County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, will have the opportunity to express their opinion and to instruct their government with regard to the policy of the Governor of the State of New Jersey, above.
 
2. The QUESTION will reflect: “On behalf of those who died of COVID-19 while residents of long-term care facilities within Sussex County and their families, as well as the Sussex County family members of residents of long-term care facilities situated elsewhere in New Jersey, the Voters of Sussex County, State of New Jersey, direct the
Board of County Commissioners of the County of Sussex to consider every legal action necessary to compel the Governor of the State of New Jersey and the Leadership of the New Jersey Legislature to release all public information requested by Sussex County on behalf of and by its citizens and, in the furtherance of full transparency, conduct an independent, public, bi-partisan legislative investigation into the governmental policies, regulations, and oversight of New Jersey’s  long term care facilities (nursing and veterans’ homes) regarding the  deaths from COVID-19 of more than 8,000 residents.” YES [ ] NO [ ] 
 
3. The Clerk of the County of Sussex is further requested to print on said ballot the following interpretive statement of the public question presented above: 
 
“The Public Question directs the Board of County Commissioners to consider every legal action necessary to compel the Governor and the Legislature to release all public information requested by Sussex County on behalf of and by its citizens and, in the furtherance of full transparency, conduct an independent, public, bi-partisan legislative  investigation into the governmental policies, regulations, and oversight of  the state’s long term care facilities (nursing and veterans’ homes) regarding the deaths from COVID-19 of more than 8,000 residents.” 
 
4. In the event any section, part or provision of this Resolution shall be held unconstitutional or invalid by any Court, such holding shall not affect the validity of this Resolution or of any remaining part of this Resolution. 
 
5. The results of the Public Question will be tabulated and maintained by the Office of the County Clerk. A copy of those results will be forwarded to the Governor and Secretary of State, State of New Jersey. 
 
6. The County Clerk will provide notice of this Resolution and the Public Question for the General Election of 2021. 
 

After being proposed by Commissioner Director Dawn Fantasia, the resolution passed unanimously.  Listen to Director Fantasia’s comments here:

https://www.sussexcountywatchdog.com/

https://www.jerseyconservative.org/

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