By SHERRI RUGGIERI
Margaret Sanger (1922) was the founder of Planned Parenthood. She would be proud to see that on February 16, 2018, the New Jersey Assembly passed bill A2134, which would restore $7.45 million dollars back into the state’s budget for Planned Parenthood services, which include cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Additionally, bipartisan support for bill A1656 would expand Medicaid coverage for these reproductive health services. Under Governor Christie, the New Jersey Legislature was continually thwarted by the governor’s veto.
During his campaign, Governor Murphy promised to restore funding and fill in the financial gaps that resulted in the closure of family planning health centers in Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, and Morris counties. Other centers were forced to cut hours, services, and staff. Studies have shown an increase in bacterial STDs, breast cancer, and cervical cancer cases as a result of limited services. To address this reproductive health crisis, Governor Murphy is expected to sign these bills from the Assembly into law. Christine Sadovy, Legislative and Political Director with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey stated, “We applaud the Assembly for passing this bill, and thank all of our legislative champions who have stood up for New Jersey women over the last eight years.”
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization, and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates in New Jersey. We advocate for access to essential health care through education, activism, voter engagement, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. For more information, visit our website at: www.ppactionnj.org.
Sherri Ruggieri is the managing editor of Empire State News. A practicing attorney for over 20 years, Ms. Ruggieri is also chairperson of Edison Township’s Planning Board. Additionally, she has served as a college professor, with nearly a decade of experience in teaching law and political science courses.
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