TRENTON — The Senate budget committee today approved a bill that would restore $7.5 million to continue subsidizing uninsured women's health and family planning services eliminated in Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget. The eight Democrats on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would specify none of the 58 health centers would use the money for...
Senate Budget Committee members Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) and Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) before the start of a committee hearing at the Statehouse this morning. TRENTON — The Senate budget committee today approved a bill that would restore $7.5 million to continue subsidizing uninsured women's health and family planning services eliminated in Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget.
The eight Democrats on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would specify none of the 58 health centers would use the money for abortions.
The five Republicans either voted no or abstained.
The bill takes the money to replace the $7.5 million from the state employee prescription drug program. The Christie administration anticipates the fund will rise by 10 percent, while the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services predicted only a 4 percent rise.
The state receives $9 for every $1 it spends to support the clinics, which provided 60,000 breast exams, 70,000 pap tests and 27,000 HIV tests last year, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union), a sponsor, told the committee. "I'm not sure how these women would afford these tests" without the government aid, she said.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (R-Cape May) applauded his fellow Democrats for answering concerns about where they money would come from in a dire budget year, and how it would be used.
But in a radio program on 101.5 FM Wednesday night, Christie indicated he remained resolute against restoring the funds.
"I don't believe that is a priority in a budget where you have to cut $11 billion," the governor said. "I believe that women have the opportunity to access health care all across New Jersey through a number of different programs, this is merely one of them, and no woman is not going to get health care because of this." Christie said.
"Family planning has nothing to do with mammograms, and don't put the two of them together," he added.
Citing Christie's "confusing" remarks about what constitutes family planning and women's health, Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) told the committee she had a meeting with the governor's chief of staff, Richard Bagger, later in the day to discuss the bill.
"I can't imagine this is a about a conservative versus liberal philosophy," Weinberg said.
By Claire Heininger and Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau Staff
Previous coverage:
• N.J. legislators push to restore family planning funds in budget
• Tempers flare as N.J. Assembly panel passes budget bills
• Republican Senate leaders push ahead with votes on $29.4B N.J. budget deal