New Jersey women's health centers react to cuts

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D., Bergen) and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D., Union) have led the fight against the cuts, testifying before fellow lawmakers, meeting with the governor's office, and holding news conferences to highlight the issue.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D., N.J.) also have spoken out against the elimination of family planning funding. Some will continue to press the issue.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D., Essex) said in a statement Tuesday that vetoes of bills to restore funds for family planning and FamilyCare would force residents to use emergency medical services as their primary form of health care.

"To deny uninsured and underinsured women access to the same type of preventative treatments women with insurance can receive with a phone call and a doctor's visit is a gross inequity bordering on classism, and we Democrats in the Assembly do not think it should stand," she said.

Overriding the veto would require two-thirds majorities from both legislative chambers. Unlike the Senate, the Assembly did not pass the $7.5 million restoration bill with a veto-proof majority. Democrats in the lower house would need the support of seven Republicans for an override.

A spokesman for the Assembly Republicans declined to say whether any members of the caucus would vote for such a measure.

"I think there are many Assembly [Republicans] who are in lock step, in fear of retribution of some sort," said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D., Camden).

Lampitt noted Planned Parenthood's success in Camden, where last year just two out of 60 children born to mothers in the prenatal care program were underweight. She said the collective goal should be to ensure healthy babies, given the cost of providing special education and other services to children born with health problems.

Contact staff writer Maya Rao at 856-779-3220 or mrao@phillynews.com