Letter to the Editor: Family Planning Veto Not About Money, About Christie Beliefs

To the Editor:

I have to give Governor Christie credit.   I marvel at his awesome ability to get people to follow him.  But what happens when he is just plain wrong?  Then there are no checks and balances.  This happened earlier this summer when he vetoed the bill that would have restored $7.5 million for 58 family-planning centers around the State.

Westfield's two Assembly representatives Jon Bramnick and Nancy Munoz abstained from the vote.  Assemblyman Bramnick explained afterwards that he supported the concept of healthcare for women but he opposed funding it.  So, let's see, he supports the idea of breast and cervical cancer screenings, but not the money to provide them.  He supports the idea of HIV testing, but not the money to provide them.  He supports birth control, but not the money to provide it. 

This is not about the money.  The Governor and the legislators who voted against it or abstained from voting sent a message to the women of New Jersey and the message was that the State will not fund birth control.  No abortions are paid for with government dollars, so it can't be about abortion.  It has to be about providing money so that women can actually control their reproductive choices and start a family when it is the right time for them.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender and State Senator Loretta Weinberg led a valiant attempt to override the Governor's veto.  Assemblywoman Stender pointed out in her remarks at a press conference that this is not about the money.  When the Governor needed to pass his budget he found the money to retain the Blue Laws in Bergen County, for example.  No, this is about the Governor's ideology.

But even more important, it's about the Governor's ability to strong arm and browbeat everyone in his way until he gets what he wants.  The Democratic leadership needs to figure out a way to fight harder. There's too much at stake.  We've already seen cuts to quality healthcare, education, services for the disabled, and town services, like police and fire.  Westfield had to make the difficult decision to cut crossing guards who ensure our children's safety on the way to school.

Seven months into his term, the Governor has shown that he is true to his mission at all costs.  The rest of us have to figure out how to control the collateral damage.

Sincerely,

Ann Cary

Westfield