TRENTON -- Once again, state lawmakers are considering legislation that would restore most state funding for family planning services. The measure up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday represents the latest attempt by Democrats to restore at least a portion of the $7.5 million that Republican Gov. Chris Christie cut from this year's budget as he worked to...
TRENTON -- Once again, state lawmakers are considering legislation that would restore most state funding for family planning services.
The measure up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday represents the latest attempt by Democrats to restore at least a portion of the $7.5 million that Republican Gov. Chris Christie cut from this year's budget as he worked to close an $11 billion deficit.
The money would have funded 58 women's health clinics, which provide a variety of medical services — ranging from family planning to breast exams to cancer, HIV and STD screenings — to hundreds of thousands of patients across New Jersey.
State funds account for about 25 percent of the centers' total budgets, and some have closed or shortened their operating hours since the funding was cut.
Proponents say the sites are vital for the working and poor women who rely on the clinics for many health services, including basic gynecological care.
But abortion opponents, including New Jersey Right to Life, and other groups have strongly opposed such funding, saying taxpayers should not have to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Christie vetoed legislation in July that would have fully restored the $7.5 million. Proponents said the funding could come from an employee prescription drug program that they said was overfunded, but the administration questioned the legitimacy of that funding source.
A similar attempt to restore the funding then failed along party lines in the state senate in September, when seven Republicans who voted for the original bill opposed it when it came to the final vote. In explaining their reversals, the lawmakers cited the same concerns Christie raised about the funding source.
But earlier this month, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved two bills that would restore $5 million for family planning services, targeting untapped money from another fund that pays counties for housing certain prisoners.
The measures also would require the state to apply for federal matching dollars for Medicaid-eligible health care consumers.
"This is an issue of paramount importance, one that cannot be treated with casual indifference by those looking to pander to the governor," said Linda Stender, D-Scotch Plains. She is sponsoring the measures with four other Democratic Assemblywomen — Linda Greenstein of Hamilton (Mercer County), Pamela Lampitt of Cherry Hill, Valerie Vainieri Huttle of Englewood and Celeste Riley of Bridgeton.
Lampitt said the bills address both the need for the centers and related financial concerns.
"This legislation reaffirms our commitment to being fiscally prudent, while maintaining our commitment to provide access to health care for women and families across New Jersey," Lampitt said. "The new funding we have identified is budget-neutral and would otherwise sit idle while women and families suffer and go without critically needed health care."