N.J. Senate restores $7.5M in budget for family planning clinics serving uninsured women

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerOverall view from the gallery as the senate begins their session at the Statehouse this afternoon.

TRENTON — The Senate voted 30-10 today to restore $7.5 million Gov. Chris Christie cut from his proposed budget that supports family planning clinics serving thousands of uninsured women.

The controversial issue united the two women Republicans and five Democratic women in the 40-member house, garnering enough votes to override the governor if he chooses to veto the bill.

Christie has said the budget item was not a high enough of a priority in such an austere budget year. He has also said the the people who use these clinics could get these services elsewhere, such as from federal qualified health centers.

But there has also been an ideological discussion raised by New Jersey Right to Life and other anti-abortion groups. They've praised the governor for eliminating funding because it is gone to Planned Parenthood, even though the clinic operators say they are already precluded from using the money for abortions.

To answer both ideological and economic concerns, the sponsors amended the bill to specifically say none of the money shall be used for abortions.

The bill also finds the money by moving funds Democrats say won't be needed from the state employee prescription drug program. Gov. Chris Christie's budget anticipated a 10 percent increase in spending; the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services predicted only a 4 percent increase.

Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean (R-Union) said he voted against the bill because of economic reasons. "This conversion today is about putting the state on a more firm financial footing going forward,'' Kean said after the vote.

Sen. Nia Gill, (D-Essex) said family planning clinic patients cut across all socio-economic levels. "A great deal of middle class, suburban women use family planning clinics,'' she said. Christie's budget cut also "effectively closes the door on those women who used to have insurance but no longer do.''

Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said the clinics provide a wider array of health services than just family planning, but also cancer screenings and other preventative health services. "We can't allow women's health to be held hostage by ideology,'' Buono said. "Let's have a little compassion here.''