TRENTON — U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg has weighed into the fray over $7.5 million in health clinic funds cut from New Jersey's budget. New Jersey's senior senator sent a letter to Gov. Chris Christie today, urging the governor to restore the funding. Christie failed to include any state money for 58 family planning centers in his $29.4 billion budget...
New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg listens during a press conference in this file photo. The senior senator sent Gov. Chris Christie a letter today, urging him to restore funding to health clinics.TRENTON — U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg has weighed into the fray over $7.5 million in health clinic funds cut from New Jersey's budget.
New Jersey's senior senator sent a letter to Gov. Chris Christie today, urging the governor to restore the funding.
Christie failed to include any state money for 58 family planning centers in his $29.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. The Legislature passed a bill restoring the money after Sen. Loretta Weinberg found money in the budget to pay for it.
Christie has questioned the funding source. So far, he hasn't signed or vetoed the funding bill.
Lautenberg, who has sponsored pro-family planning bills in the Senate, says Christie should continue to support the clinics that last year provided cancer, HIV and STD screenings and breast exams to 136,000 patients.
Previous Coverage:
• N.J. health chief is questioned about Christie's $7.5M grant cut for family planning clinics
• N.J. lawmakers press Gov. Chris Christie to restore $7.5M in women's health clinic funding
• N.J. lawmakers encourage Gov. Christie to restore $7.5M for women's health, family planning clinics
• N.J. Assembly restores $7.5M for family planning clinics serving uninsured women
• N.J. Democrats set stage for battle with Gov. Christie about family planning funds in budget