Assembly Human Services Committee Chair Valerie Vainieri Huttle on Monday called on the Christie administration to provide details as to how the state is funding a drug treatment television and radio ad campaign featuring the Governor after a report surfaced that the campaign is being paid for by funds previously earmarked to promote anti-poverty programs for women and children.
“There’s no denying that the opioid crisis deserves the state’s attention, but if this report holds true, robbing Peter to pay Paul when our poverty rate is at a 50-year high, seems like a questionable decision at best.
“I think this definitely deserves a detailed explanation from the administration as to how this ad campaign is being funded and what impact, if any, it is having on promoting the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which has seen a decline in enrollment despite the obvious need for these services.
“I think taxpayers deserve a full accounting of how this campaign has, and will continue to be, funded,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).