New Jersey's Democratic lawmakers on Monday advanced two bills -- one that would restore funding for state family planning centers that Gov. Chris Christie (R) cut from the budget and another to expand access to family planning services for low-income women, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Earlier this year, Christie eliminated $7.5 million in funding to 58 family planning centers, saying that the state could not afford it. Democrats have made repeated efforts to restore the money, including a failed attempt to override Christie's veto of a bill to provide the funding. Democrats were unable to secure any Republican support for the override attempt.
In 2009, the family planning centers served more than 130,000 women and men, providing contraception, prenatal care, breast exams and Pap tests. State law prohibits family planning centers from using the money for abortion services.
Since the start of the fiscal year in July, the funding cuts have forced two family planning clinics and one satellite office to close, Michelle Jaker, executive director of the Family Planning Association of New Jersey, said. She added that the centers will serve 40,000 fewer clients this year because of the cuts. "Unless we take action today, more agencies will announce more closures, layoffs and hour reductions by the end of the year," Jaker said, adding, "All of this has an impact on the number of patients who will be seen."
Latest Legislation
On Monday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed two bills addressing family planning services. The bills now go to the Assembly floor for a vote.
The first bill would redistribute $5 million in unspent funds that were allocated in 2009 to county correctional facilities. Assembly member Pamela Lampitt (D) said that the 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." She added that the identified funding is "budget neutral and would otherwise sit idle while women and families suffer and go without critically needed health care."
The second measure is a companion bill that would require the state to apply to the federal government for permission to expand Medicaid coverage of family planning services. Christie's administration withdrew the state's application, which was started during Gov. Jon Corzine's (D) administration, according to supporters of the legislation. Assembly member Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D), the bill's sponsor, said 27 states have been approved to expand the coverage. New Jersey would receive $9 in federal money for every $1 spent by the state, she added (Lu, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/9).
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