NEW JERSEY 20th Legislative District
	Senator RAYMOND LESNIAK	Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN	Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
For Release: Immediate July 7, 2010		Contact: Press office (609) 292-7065

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AGAIN CALL FOR GOV. CHRISTIE TO RESTORE WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE FUNDING

$7.5 Million Provided by Bill Would Benefit & Protect Women, Newborns

(TRENTON) -- Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday issued a multimedia package on their continued call for Gov. Chris Christie to take action on their legislation that would restore $7.5 million for women's health programs in the recently enacted budget.

The package comes as numerous Assembly Democratic legislators gathered for the third time in less than a week to call on Christie to take action.

The multimedia package features Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union), Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) and Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) speaking at a July 1 news conference -- the first held to call Christie to take action.

The legislation (S-2139/A-3019) would reverse Gov. Christie's $7.5 million cut to family planning and women's health services in New Jersey. It also would require the state to apply for an expansion of Medicaid coverage, to allow women between 134 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level -- or earning between $29,547 and $44,100 a year in income -- to receive family planning services under the Medicaid program. By expanding this enrollment, the state would receive $9 in federal reimbursement for every additional $1 spent for family planning services through the state's Medicaid program.

The services provided under this bill involve contraception; routine gynecological exams; screening for high blood pressure, anemia and diabetes; breast and cervical cancer screening and education; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections; HIV testing and counseling; pre-pregnancy counseling and education; pregnancy testing and confirmation; and prenatal care.

The multimedia package consists of a video of the July 1 news conference, audio of the same and a press release from the legislators.

The video can be accessed directly via our website -- www.assemblydems.com -- or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

###