WolfeNotes.com

Christie Abolished Governor’s Task Force on Public Health Emergency Planning

Christie’s first term Inaugural (Jan. 19, 2010 – Bill Wolfe)

In November 2022, current NJ Governor Murphy issued a press release that announced a review of the State’s disastrous COVID response, which caused and contributed to thousands of excess deaths:

TRENTON – Governor Murphy today announced the beginning of an independent review of the State’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the state of readiness in early 2020, and how the State responded to the many challenges that emerged over the last three years. The review, which will contain recommendations to enhance the State’s preparedness for a future public health crisis, will be conducted by a team at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, in conjunction with the management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to commission an independent and comprehensive review on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The review was to be released by the end of 2023. Media reports say that the private consultants will be paid $400 an hour.

So here’s some absolutely free grist for that investigation.

First, at the very beginning of the pandemic, I wrote to expose the State’s negligence, see:

• NJ State Officials Knew For Years That A Pandemic Could Cause Healthcare System To Collapse And 50,000 Residents Could Die

Second, just now in researching a completely different issue that had nothing to do with COVID, I came across this little bit of history that is almost certain to be swept under the rug.

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and subsequent scares regarding the State’s public health emergency planning, preparation for an anthrax bio-terrorism attack, and overall ability to respond to public health emergencies, on January 14, 2002, Acting Governor Codey issued Executive Order #140.

EO 140 created a Governor’s Task Force on Public Health Emergency Planning (Task Force).

The Task Force was comprised of experts, including epidemiologists, infectious diseases, education and communication systems needed to respond to an emergency, and State Department of Health and Emergency Management officials.

The Task Force was directed to focus on NJ’s public health system, specifically with respect to responding to and “preventing epidemics”.

Here is the Task Force’s charge – note how each task is directly related to the current COVID failures:

3. The Task Force is charged with:

• examining the infrastructure of New Jersey’s public health system (at all levels) to determine whether New Jersey is ready to serve the public health needs of its citizens in the event of a future terrorist attack or other public health emergency;
• recommending a single definition of “public health” to allow the more than 600 boards of health and local health officials to coordinate their efforts and develop one coordinated public health system;
• identifying the statutory and regulatory steps that should be taken to address any issues and/or shortfalls identified;
• examining the relationships between local health officials and State health officials to determine whether there is adequate coordination and communication, whether the creation of county health departments is necessary and whether having approximately 525 boards of health and 115 local health agencies properly utilizes State resources;
• determining whether the following public health system principles are being met:
  
  1. preventing epidemics;
  2. protecting the environment, workplace, housing, food and water;
  3. promoting good health behaviors;
  4. monitoring the health status of the population;
  5. mobilizing community action;
  6. responding rapidly and effectively to disaster;
  7. promoting the quality, accessibility and accountability of medical care;
  8. identifying and reaching out to link high-risk and inaccessible people to needed services;
  9. conducting research to develop new insights and innovative solutions; and
  10. leading the development of sound health policy and planning.
      
• determining whether additional funding of our public health system is necessary;
• recommending changes to New Jersey’s public health system.
• leading the development of sound health policy and planning.
• 4. The Task Force shall issue a report in 6 months presenting its findings and recommendations to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature.

So, who dropped the ball here?

The Task Force was abolished by Gov. Christie’s Executive Order #40 (see paragraph #36).

How can a Governor abolish a Task Force without assuring that its work is complete and recommendations implemented?

I do not know if the Codey Task Force ever issued its Report to the Legislature and Governor.

But if they did, then subsequent Governors Corzine and Christie are responsible for failing to implement the Task Force Recommendations.

If the Task Force did not issue a Report, then Gov. Christie was reckless in not finishing the work and improving NJ’s health system, particularly with respect to infectious diseases.

[End note: because I got strong pushback from NJ people claiming that Gov. Murphy deserves the blame, let me clarify: nothing in this post was meant to absolve Murphy of any responsibility and nothing does. I’ve criticized his administration for failures, including the nursing home debacle and the liability relief lie he signed. But Murphy should have inherited a stronger public health system, had Christie and Corzine adopted reforms made obvious in 2001.]