Archive for Tag: Covid

Sauickie bill creating inspector general for veterans facilities addresses lack of oversight and accountability in DOJ report

TRENTON, N.J. – One of the first pieces of legislation Assemblyman Alex Sauickie sponsored upon joining the General Assembly in 2022 addresses the insufficient oversight at state-run veterans homes as recently detailed in a report by the U.S. Department of Justice. His bill (A319) would create an independent inspector...

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DOJ report proves protecting veterans wasn’t above Murphy and legislative Democrats pay grade, Bergen says

TRENTON, N.J. – The day after a federal investigation laid the blame for veterans home deaths squarely on Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration’s Covid policies, Assemblyman Brian Bergen says Democrats’ day-after calls to do more is hypocritical at best. The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division and...

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Dunn pushes for mandatory upgrades at veterans homes following federal investigation findings

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Aura Dunn is calling on legislative leaders to post a bill she cosponsors requiring upgrades to the state-run veterans homes at Menlo Park and Paramus following the U.S. Department of Justice’s scathing report detailing inadequate infection control and medical care at the facilities Thursday. “New...

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DiMaio demands accountability and action following DOJ’s investigation of NJ veterans homes

TRENTON, N.J. – Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio called on Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration to take full accountability for continuing to fail veterans at state-run homes and take immediate action to ensure their health and safety following the conclusion of the federal investigation at Menlo Park and...

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Sawyer calls on Rutgers to end all Covid mandates

TRENTON, N.J. – Rutgers University should repeal its unrealistic Covid mandates as other higher education institutions drop them and the federal public health emergency sunsets May 11, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer says. The university issued updated guidelines March 17 that still requires students, staff, contractors and others to provide proof...

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Teen mental health crisis shows why governors need to be kept in check legislators, Bergen says

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Brian Bergen is marveling that Gov. Phil Murphy and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer—two governors that imposed some of the harshest pandemic restrictions in the nation—are hosting a one-day event on Wednesday about teen mental health at the MGM Grand Detroit. Lockdowns and social isolation, brought...

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Umba’s bill would force State Board of Education to resume in-person meetings

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Brandon Umba says the state Board of Education has denied the public its voice concerning children’s education well beyond any reasonable claim of ongoing public health concerns. With local and state governing bodies safely back to working in person for months with public participation, the...

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Barranco calls for fairness, transparency in distributing remaining Covid funds

TRENTON, N.J. – As the remaining $1 billion in federal Covid relief funds gets earmarked, that decision-making process must be fair and transparent says Assemblyman Christian Barranco. Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has been criticized by lawmakers and advocacy groups for its lack of forthrightness in how and why it spent...

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Eulner and Piperno say Murphy administration’s testing in schools doesn’t address immediate need for more student support

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Marilyn Piperno say the Department of Education’s directive to schools requiring additional Start Strong assessments in the fall fails to help students who need the extra support now. The Monmouth County lawmakers argue it illustrates the Murphy administration’s lack of planning and...

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Bergen calls for unity against government mandates at Freedom Convoy rally

TRENTON, N.J. – Liberty-loving truckers and their supporters took to the roads over the weekend for a peaceful Freedom Convoy in protest of unconstitutional mandates and the restoration of the Founding Fathers’ vision of a representative republic. Among their supporters was Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who spoke to a crowd...

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