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Loading...NJ Governor Wants To Cut All Funds For Women’s Health
As a college student in the fair state of New Jersey, I’m always interested by state politics, especially since the election of Republican governor Chris Christie. Generally, my impression is that New Jersey is a fairly liberal state – its legislature didn’t legalize gay marriage earlier this year, but it came close, and generally, I worry far less about my rights as a woman than I do in my home state of Virginia, which routinely tries to limit access to abortion.
Which is why this made me gasp. Planned Parenthood reports that Governor Christie’s 2011 fiscal year budget “proposed the complete elimination of state funding for family planning services.” Apparently, this same budget gave over $7 million for basic reproductive health care services last year. And here’s the kicker: state dollars are not used for abortion services.
Planned Parenthood’s action site points out that this is actually a much more expensive venture than it seems. New Jersey’s budget, certainly, needs to be slim, because the state is in massive debt, but this is not the way. Planned Parenthood claims that “each public dollar spent to provide family planning services saves an estimated $4 that would otherwise be spent in Medicaid-related costs alone.” So the state is basically setting itself up to pay at least $28 million more in Medicaid expenses.
This is just more proof that to legislators, women’s health is not a given. It’s one of the first things that can be sacrificed during the health care debate, and, apparently, when the governor is trying to find ways to trim the budget. But the fact is that allocating funds for women’s health is actually incredibly important: it saves the government money in the long run, and in 2009 alone, New Jersey’s Title X family planning agencies helped prevent 39, 782 unintended pregnancies and 18,896. You read that right, it prevented abortion. So this isn’t even a moral issue, in any sense – it’s just bureaucratic stupidity.
You can tell Governor Christie what you think about this proposal here. This is especially important if you’re a New Jersey voter.
Read more: chris christie, family planning, new jersey, reproductive rights, womens health, womens rights
Photo from ProgressOhio's Flickr photostream.
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+ add your ownImpeach Christie!
just another example how little women are valued in society
Recall New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Sad news.
Carole T, where do you get your information on Planned Parenthood and the idea that contraception and/or abortion isn't a part of women's health care? You couldn't be further off the mark if you deliberately tried! Knowledge about contraception, STDs, Pap smears and routine pelvic exams, and even sterilization are all part of a woman's reproductive health care to ensure that her body stays in good shape and she only has the number of children that she WANTS to have! Women were not put on this earth to be merely babymaking incubators, families like the Duggars and their attitudes towards family planning notwithstanding. Routine pelvic exams and Pap smears can catch diseases like cancer early, therefore making it more curable, and problems with the menstrual cycle such as endometriosis and fibroids can be treated early on. Contraception including sterilization help ensure that women aren't worn out from repeated childbearing (which is HARD on a woman's body!), and knowledge about effective, reliable contraception helps prevent unwanted pregnancies and therefore helps prevent abortions as well! Not to mention that contraceptives like the Pill are also used to treat menstrual problems as well! What are those women who take the Pill to ease symptoms from hell supposed to do, just suffer through the painful cramps, bleeding this side of hemorrhaging, and big-time PMS like you seem to want them to? I don't frickin' think so! Reproductive health is part of WOMEN'S health too
Does this man have a wife, daughter, mother (we have to assume), aunt, sister...? I wonder if/how they are effected by this..and does it make any difference to him?
I lived in Atlantic City before the casinos came in and found it to be a very racist town. My car was set on fire and "n..lover" scrawled on the sides. To me, it's always been a strange state.
A handful of women, demonstrating on the pavement, just will not cut it!
All the ladies of this city, covering all ages, should be closing down New Jersey by sheer numbers, then, and only then, will they get the Governor's complete attention to their needs.
Wow, thats the most absurd thing I ever heard?
Lou
www.privacy-news.us.tc
Just because N.J. like every other state is in massive debt, the disruption of funding for family planning services should not be accepted or allowed to happen. Communities and families will be affected. The basics of prenatal care and delivering or HIV testing & counseling, basic physical exams and health screenings are indispensable to communities. A state should offer the basics to all within its state, specially to the many that now a days have to deal with low or no income at all.
The Governor could plan salary cuts for all of the government salaried employees or offer unpaid leave for city officials or reduce bus routes or reduce park maintenance, etc. when possible to help with the budget.
There are endless venues where the State could save money but should not be at the cost of its residents.
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