Gov. Chris Christie eliminated $7.45 million in grants last year because he said the state could not afford them
TRENTON — The Senate Monday will vote again on a bill that would restore $7.45 million in grants to family planning clinics Gov. Chris Christie eliminated last year because he said the state could not afford them.
With the revelations from state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff this week that revenues had risen by at least $511 million more than the state anticipated in February, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he "welcomed" the opportunity of restoring the lost grant funding.
The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services predicted an even greater revenue boost: $913 million in revenue through June 2012.
Last summer, Christie vetoed the bill (A3273) that would have restored the grants.
"Last year the governor told us there was no funding available for women’s healthcare in the budget. We knew then as we know now, it was a false claim used to mask right-wing ideology,'' Sweeney said in a prepared statement.
"With both the administration and the Office of Legislative Services acknowledging increases in revenues of several hundred million dollars, there is simply no reason why $7.5 million of that funding can’t be used to close this gaping hole in women’s healthcare,'' Sweeney's statement said.
Six of 58 family planning clinics have closed since the state eliminated the grants, according to a recent report by the Family Planning Association of New Jersey. The clinics served 131,000 patients in 2010, providing routine gynecological exams, birth control products, health, cancer and sexually transmitted disease screenings, HIV and pregnancy testing and pre-pregnancy counseling, according to the report.
"It’s predictable that the majority party in the legislature, led by Senator Sweeney, can’t resist the urge to open the public’s wallet as soon as a few extra dollars become available,'' said the governor's spokesman, Michael Drewniak. "We cannot throw out the sensible budgeting practices we’ve put in place just because of a modest increase in tax revenue.''
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Sen. Weinberg: Christie's cuts on health centers are a 'war on women'
• State Sen. Weinberg says she will fight budget unless $1M for women's health is included
• Closing of Bayonne women's health clinic will trigger jobs shuffle
• Today in Trenton: Sen. Lautenberg protests for women's health funding, Gov. Christie takes questions