N.J. Gov. Eliminates Family Planning Funding From State Budget

June 23, 2010 — On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and the Democrat-controlled Legislature reached an agreement on a fiscal 2011 budget that includes a $7.5 million cut to family planning centers, the Parsippany Daily Record reports (Symons, Parsippany Daily Record, 6/22). If the budget is approved, 58 family planning centers will no longer receive state funding, which accounts for about 25% of their budgets, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Delli Santi, AP/Long Island Newsday, 6/22).

State Senate President Stephen Sweeny (D) criticized the elimination of the family planning funding, noting that it would decrease the amount of federal money the state receives. New Jersey receives $9 for every $1 spent on family planning, according to Sweeny.

The issue "is not about abortion [but] about women's health," Sweeny said, adding, "And the fact that the governor is so hung up on being a conservative Republican that he's going to sacrifice women's health and throw away $9 for every dollar -- we're not going to sit back with that." Sweeny said Democrats would try to pass a supplemental spending bill with the family planning funding.

The budget committee will meet later this week to vote on the final bill, with final floor votes scheduled for Monday (Parsippany Daily Record, 6/22).