Governor Christie Vetoes Funds For Women’s Health Services

Trenton, NJ – Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area criticized the Governor for decimating women’s health care in New Jersey.

“We were outraged and saddened to hear that the Governor has vetoed legislation that provided funding for women’s health care in New Jersey.  This funding enables health centers like ours to provide basic health care to thousands of under and uninsured women and their families,” said Allison Howe, Vice President of Health Services at Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area (Trenton).

Investing in women’s health is not only good policy, it helps save money. Each public dollar spent to provide family planning services saves an estimated $4 that would otherwise be spent in Medicaid-related costs alone.  For the money saved by eliminating state funding for women’s health care the state will pay at least $28 million more in Medicaid expenses and this doesn’t even include the millions in federal money that is left sitting on the table.

Governor Christie’s FY11 state budget completely eliminated state funding for family planning services.  Last year, this budget line allocated over $7 million for basic reproductive health care services including routine gynecological exams; basic contraception; screening for high blood pressure, anemia and diabetes; breast and cervical cancer screening and education; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); HIV testing and counseling; pre-pregnancy counseling and education; pregnancy testing and confirmation; and prenatal care and/or referral.  State dollars are not used for abortion services. 

"There is no ideological divide in our state about the need for women’s health care,” said Howe.  “The elimination of women’s health programs in the budget makes no sense. It hurts the women of New Jersey and it hurts the pockets of taxpayers who will have to make up the costs.”