New Jersey legislators pushed a two-pronged measure to increase access to and funding for women’s reproductive health services, lauding the move as a major success for local women.
“We’ve made this legislation one of our first priorities for the new legislative session now that we have a governor who is willing to sign it,” Democrat assemblyman Vince Mazzeo said. Mazzeo applauded the passage of the multi-bill bundle entailing $7.45 million for women’s health centers and raising the income threshold for which families can receive reproductive-health services under Medicaid, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The measure comes as an effort to reestablish funding to abortion clinics and family planning services former Gov. Chris Christie discontinued in 2010. A Planned Parenthood official said the cuts resulted in clinics closing in Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson and Morris counties.
New Jersey Planned Parenthood Action Fund political director Christine Sadovy applauded the legislative package as an exciting move that will put the state back on the right track in regards to women’s health and reproductive series.
New Jersey Right to Life executive director Marie Tasy doesn’t see it the same way, however, positing that women receive better health services at non-abortive sites. “It [sic] they (Planned Parenthood) were seeing a decrease in patients served, it is probably because they were getting better, comprehensive care at a federally qualified health center,” she said.
“The passage of these bills signifies a milestone for New Jersey: women’s access to reproductive health care is recognized as an essential service, not trivialized as a political symbol,” American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) policy counsel Dianna Houenou stated, according to the City Press.
The bills will now head to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk where he is expected to officialize the legislation.
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