Good Move To Stall NJ Ballot Question, Abortion Rights Supporters Say

NEW JERSEY — A campaign to launch a constitutional amendment for abortion rights in New Jersey has been put on ice – for now, at least.

Democratic lawmakers in the Garden State were previously planning to try and get a ballot question approved for next year’s general election. It would have enshrined the right to an abortion into the state’s Constitution, which could only be overridden with the consent of voters, WHYY.org reported.

However, that campaign was apparently taken off the able over the weekend, partly at the request of advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of New Jersey, Politico reported Monday, citing a statement from Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.

New Jersey currently guarantees the right to an abortion on the state level under the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in January. Read More: NJ Abortion Law Sees Fierce Controversy; Here's What It Will Do

Here’s why it’s a good move to hold off on a constitutional amendment, according to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD: ‘BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS’

Jackie Cornell, executive director at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, thanked Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas Scutari for listening to advocates’ requests.

According to Cornell:

“Ballot measures are a step we should only take if we need to – and right now, we don’t. Thanks to the leadership shown by Governor Murphy and the Legislature, New Jersey already has some of the strongest abortion protections in the country. Additionally, our state benefits from nearly 40 years of state Supreme Court precedent protecting abortion rights. A misworded ballot measure could bring us backwards. We will continue to advocate for strengthening access to reproductive health care, including abortion, by breaking down barriers to getting care and making meaningful financial investments into providing care. This is what will truly move our state forward.”

Cornell continued:

“Additionally, a ballot measure would require an investment of tens of millions of dollars. Because the governor and Legislature have taken action this year, we believe a better approach now is investing those dollars instead in providing health care services. Our top priority is ensuring that patients receive the full range of reproductive health care services they need. Any ballot measure needs to be very carefully considered and we support efforts to ensure that it is done in the right way – by energizing supporters and protecting hard-won freedoms enjoyed by people in New Jersey.”

ACLU: ‘WE MUST DO MORE’

ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha also issued a statement in support of stalling the campaign for a ballot question.

Here’s why, Sinha said:

“The right to abortion is already a fundamental constitutional right in New Jersey. For 40 years, our state constitution has provided greater protection for abortion rights than Roe v. Wade and the recent repeal of Roe by the U.S. Supreme Court did not undermine those rights. Thanks to our elected leaders, the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act codified New Jersey’s strong reproductive rights into legislation. A state constitutional amendment that only maintains the status quo is unnecessary, and without a careful, deliberative process, a ballot measure risks creating uncertainty in the legal landscape. We must do more. This moment calls for building upon New Jersey’s robust legal protections to create access to abortion care and ensure that this right is a reality for all in our state.”

“We commend legislative leaders for recognizing the concerns raised by providers and advocates about a possible constitutional amendment, and urge them to prioritize what is needed: immediate action to extend equitable access to reproductive health care, including abortion, to all in New Jersey,” Sinha added.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.