(TRENTON) – State Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen and Assemblywoman Linda Stender, D-Union, along with representatives of women’s health organizations and legislators who support access to women’s health programs, will hold a news conference tomorrow, Thursday, July 1, to urge Governor Christie to act on legislation to restore the $7.5 million in cuts for women’s health programs in the recently enacted FY 2011 State Budget.
The lawmakers noted that the bill, S-2139 and A-3019, would reverse the Governor’s $7.5 million cut to family planning and women’s health services in New Jersey. The funding in question was used for basic women’s health services, including cancer and gynecological screening, prenatal and postnatal care, pregnancy detection, HIV testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. None of the funds were to be used to fund abortions.
The legislation identified surplus funding in the State Employee Prescription Drug program to fund the restoration, making the bill budget-neutral. Both Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Stender are urging the Governor to act – either sign the legislation, or veto it, so that the Legislature can begin the process of overriding the Governor’s veto.
The news conference will be held at 1:30 PM in Statehouse Room 103, across from the Senate Chambers.
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