Democrats are resurrecting attempts to force New Jersey taxpayers to fund the abortion business Planned Parenthood this month.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie repeatedly has cut funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business — slashing millions in taxpayer funds for a group that was eventually found out to have engaged in fraud using taxpayer dollars. Christie, who is pro-life, vetoed Planned Parenthood funding five times before he ran for re-election in a state that is not known as a bastion of conservatism.
However, two new Democrat-backed funding bills would put millions of tax dollars back into the abortion giant’s hands, according to New Jersey Right to Life.
Marie Tasy, executive director of the pro-life organization, said she testified against the two state bills on June 6 in front of the state Senate Health Committee. The bills, A3492/S2277 and A1963/S1017, would funnel more than $7.4 million through the state Department of Health to Planned Parenthood for family planning services, Tasy said.
“These are the same two bills that certain lawmakers have been pushing to get funded ever since Governor Christie eliminated funds in the budget for Planned Parenthood back in 2010,” Tasy said. “Thankfully, Governor Christie has stood strong and vetoed these measures every time.”
Also testifying against the bills were John Tomicki from the League of American Families, Len Deo from NJ Family First, Rev. Clenard Childress from L.E.A.R.N. and Greg Quinlan from NJ Garden State families.
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Both bills are linked to the state budget, the pro-life group reports. Tasy said it is not clear whether the Democratic legislative leaders will come up with their own budget and insert these bills into it, or vote on these as separate pieces of legislation. Action on the bills could come soon because the state budget is due by June 30, she said.
Tasy urged New Jersey residents to call and email their state Senator and two Assembly members as soon as possible and urge them to vote against the bills.
The taxpayer dollars that used to go to Planned Parenthood now fund federally qualified health centers in New Jersey that offer comprehensive health care to women and families.
“Everything from cancer screenings and mammograms for women to prostate cancer screenings for men to diabetes treatment and to everything in between that can lead folks to greater healthcare available to them and can lead to greater health results for each and every person who walks through the door,” Gov. Christie said previously.
Christie previously said he would not compromise on funding the abortion business.
“When they send me Planned Parenthood funding year after year after year – I am the first governor to ever veto Planned Parenthood funding out of the budget …” he said during a conservative political conference.
The state defunded the abortion giant after it was found engaging in fraudulent activity in New Jersey.
The U.S. Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services uncovered a consistent problem with New Jersey-based family planning clinics run by the Planned Parenthood abortion business. They were found to be improperly billing Medicaid for services that did not qualify as family planning.
An initial audit revealed New Jersey improperly received federal reimbursement at the enhanced 90% rate for 160,955 prescription drug claims that were billed as family planning, but did not qualify as family planning services. A letter from the Inspector General to New Jersey officials recommended that New Jersey repay $2,219,746 to the federal government.
The state eventually did return the $2.9 million to the federal government.
ACTION: Click here to tell New Jersey lawmakers that you do not want your tax dollars used to fund Planned Parenthood.
