New Jersey Democrats Want to Override Christie Veto of Planned Parenthood $

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 3, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

New Jersey Democrats Want to Override Christie Veto of Planned Parenthood $

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 3
, 2010

Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) — Democrats in the state legislature kicked off a campaign to override a veto Governor Christ Christie issued to prevent $7.5 million in state taxpayer funds from going to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. When the state currently faces an $11 billion deficit, Christ said the funding doesn’t make sense.

Christie won the praise of pro-life advocates last month by vetoing a bill that would restore the family planning funds his administration cut from the state budget because of deep economic troubles.

Although it doesn’t fund abortions directly, the money goes to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. The funds go to 58 family planning clinics but Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion chain, runs 29 of the facilities.

After Christ cut the funding, the state legislature approved a bill to restore it. They voted for that bill Christie voted on a 30-10 vote on the Senate, more than enough to override the veto.

But Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. told the Star-Ledger newspaper that Republicans who supported the bill will not buck their party’s governor on a veto override vote.

"There will not be enough votes in the Senate to spend money that we don’t have," he said. "This is the time for fiscal discipline, and the members of the Republican caucus recognize that."

Three of the seven Republicans who voted for the measure already told the newspaper they do not plan on supporting the override and Democrats won’t be able to get the 27 votes needed if one more Republican joins them.

In addition to Kean, state Sens. Christopher Connors and Robert Singer, both Republicans, will switch their vote. At press time, State Sens. Diane Allen, Christopher "Kip" Bateman, Jennifer Beck, and Andrew Ciesla would not say or had not been contacted.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat, countered Kean’s comments in her own interview with the Star-Ledger.

"Tom Kean can come out with whatever statements he wants. I don’t believe that he’s going to be able to control all the good people in his caucus," said Weinberg.

Officials at New Jersey Right to Life are asking pro-life advocates to call members of the state Senate to urge a no vote on the override.

"Our voices are being heard. Please continue to call and email your State Senator and two Assembly members and urge them to vote No to override the Governor’s veto of S2139," said NJRTL director Marie Tasy.

Christie thinks there’s little reason to send the abortion centers $7.5 million when the state currently faces an $11 billion deficit.

He said the "unprecedented financial difficulties" of the state made it so the money was better off not spent.

"Reproductive health care services will continue to be available in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties, including Planned Parenthood clinics, local health department clinics, standing free clinics, and hospital-based clinics," he said.

Related web sites:
Contact Governor Christie – https://www.nj.gov/nj/feedback.html
New Jersey Right to Life – https://www.njrtl.org

 

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