Senator Lou D’Allesandro Responds to Partisan Attack Minimizing Deaths of Veterans
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3207
CONCORD – Earlier today, an opinion piece penned by Senator Bob Giuda (R-Warren), Representative Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry), and Executive Councilor Joe Kenney (R-Union) accused Senator Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) of “sanctimonious posturing” and taking “cheap shots” in his repeated demands for accountability following the deaths of nearly 40 veterans at the New Hampshire Veterans Home. New Hampshire has seen more COVID-19 related deaths of veterans than any other state in the country, and Senator D’Allesandro has consistently demanded answers as to why this has happened and how it can be fixed.
Following its release, Senator D’Allesandro stated the following: “I’m sorry to read these disturbing comments by fellow public servants—even more so, from three veterans. In the past year, I have received many calls and emails from constituents deeply disturbed about the veterans home crisis, particularly from families of these veterans wanting answers. In a letter I received this December, the niece of a resident requested a full investigation into "the extent and nature of what went wrong and corrective steps that will be taken." I will never apologize for asking the questions my constituents demand, which I have done every day of my 45 years of public service to this state. I will however take this opportunity to apologize to the families of the deceased veterans: I am truly sorry that public servants, who should be worried about the health and wellbeing of their fellow veterans, have instead decided to engage in the exact kind of “sanctimonious posturing” they accuse me of. These public servants had an opportunity to use their positions to shine a light on the problem at the Veterans Home and demand accountability for these veterans’ families. Instead, they took this opportunity to stroke the Governor’s ego. While the accusations leveled by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are the very definition of political grandstanding, I wish them all well and hope that somehow making these politically motivated accusations has brought them some satisfaction. In light of their apparent indifference to the avoidable deaths of New Hampshire veterans, I am more committed than ever to getting answers for these bereaved families.”
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