Scroll Top

Schaer: Christie Administration Needs to Commit to the Fight Against Cancer

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Gary S. Schaer questioned the Christie administration’s commitment to cancer research during a hearing Wednesday on the proposed FY 2016 budget for the state Health Department.

“Last year the administration attempted to eliminate funding for the New Jersey Cancer Commission, but Democrats in the legislature were successful in adding $1 million back into the budget that was approved. Now, almost a year later, we find out that only $6,500 of that $1 million has been dispensed for research, to date.

“For every dollar appropriated to cancer research, we see a return of roughly $10 in economic benefits to our state. With the gains we stand to make both economically and medically, I fail to see the administration’s rationale for attempting to eliminate the cancer commission’s budget once again.

“We are nowhere near winning the war on cancer. From a financial perspective, why are we acting as if the battle is over? The feet-dragging and lack of commitment is disconcerting, to say the least,” said Schaer (D-Bergen/Passaic).