Fanwood Council Prepares for Debate on Family Planning Resolution

At the Fanwood Borough Council's regular meeting Tuesday night, council members will consider a resolution opposing Gov. Chris Christie's veto of nearly $7.5 million of family-planning funding. The funding bill, which Christie rejected July 23, would have restored state and federal matching funds for clinics that provide low-cost or free cancer screenings, gynecological exams, contraception, sexually transmitted infection tests, sexual health education and other health services. Christie eliminated the funds – without prior announcement – in March.

For the full story on the veto and how it will affect Fanwood and Scotch Plains residents, click here.

"The fact that money is being taken away from pre-natal care and well-baby clinics is an outrage to the society," Councilwoman Katherine Mitchell said at the Borough Council's agenda meeting last Tuesday, Aug. 3.

Councilwoman Joan Wheeler agreed. "This [bill] would help many women in our community," she said at the meeting. "There are many women who haven't had a Pap smear at age 40 or don't know enough about pre-natal care. This [bill] would go a long way to support women's education regarding health."

Councilman Robert Manduca, however, expressed support for the governor's veto. "The people in Fanwood – regardless of their view on abortion – shouldn't be asked to basically fund abortions," he said. "This is about funding something some people object to."

Some of the facilities that received state funding do provide abortions. State and federal money, however, cannot be used for those services, including the so-called "abortion pill," which medically terminates a pregnancy within the first trimester, said Michele Jaker, executive director of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey, and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), who was a primary sponsor of the fund-restoration bill.

The loss of government funding does not mean that abortion providers will discontinue their services for terminating pregnancies. It does mean, however, that many family planning centers will be forced to reduce their hours, layoff staff or close facilities entirely, Jaker said, therefore limiting access to the non-abortion-related services they offered.

In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon, Manduca reiterated his support of the veto. He maintained that state funds, even if they did not pay for abortions, nevertheless supported organizations that provided abortion services. "Should taxpayers be mandated to give money to an organization that has a position that many may see as immoral?" he said.

Citing information distributed by Senator Tom Kean's office (R-NJ), Manduca argued that New Jersey budgeted $6 million for hospitals and radiological centers to provide mammograms and cancer screenings for uninsured and low-income residents. The residents can also find care at federally qualified health centers (FQHC), he said. 

FQHC administrators, however, said they are already overburdened with patients. At the Plainfield Health Clinic, the closest FQHC to Scotch Plains and Fanwood, wait times exceed two weeks, said Rudine Smith, CEO of the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, which operates the clinic. It is also one of the only FQHCs in the region to offer OB/GYN services – most others do not, Jaker said.

Jaker, Stender and other opponents of the veto assert that the action will ultimately cost the state much more than the $7.5 million that Christie contends is being saved. They argue that the state will end up paying for the crisis and emergency room care of patients who would have otherwise received cheaper, preventative healthcare. They also point to the 90 percent match that the federal government provides for the family planning services of Medicaid patients. With the elimination of the family planning funds, New Jersey lost the federal funds, as well, which last year totaled nearly $1.8 million, Jaker said.

The Borough Council meeting tonight will start at 7:30 p.m. Check back tomorrow for details.