Pro-Family Nonprofits Urge NJ Senators To Vote Against Giving Planned Parenthood $9.5M

NEW JERSEY — Two nonprofit family advocacy groups are urging New Jersey Senators to not allocate $9.5 million in funding to Planned Parenthood.

The New Jersey Family Policy Alliance and The Center For Garden State Families have spoken out against legislation that would permit the appropriation. The Senate Budget Committee passed the legislation Thursday.

The State Assembly passed a companion bill by more than a two-to-one margin Nov. 25. The State Senate will vote on the bill in the near future. (Click here to read the Senate bill.)

Gregory Quinlan, founder and president of The Center for Garden State Families, said, in an email to members, that the state plans on giving the money to Planned Parenthood under the “guise” of family planning.

“Planned Parenthood helps no one plan for parenthood, they only promote avoiding it,” Quinlan stated in his email to members. (See related: Why Abortion Is a Gospel Issue)

The New Jersey Family Policy Alliance is also rallying against the bill. The alliance solicited residents to sign a petition to a dozen state senators urging them to vote against approving the legislation.

“Planned Parenthood does not have a right to federal or state taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers cannot and should be forced to underwrite the activities of abortion providers in conflict with the plain language of the law, congressional intent, and in violation of sincerely held religious beliefs that all life is precious and worth protecting,” the petition states. “The government has no obligation to fund abortion access through Title X, and in fact to do so is in violation of the law.” (See related: Petition: Let New Jersey Parents Opt Students Out Of LGBT Curriculum)

The Family Policy Alliance said there are 116 Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey that could receive the funding. These clinics offer “more comprehensive” health care services to women than Planned Parenthood does. They provide pediatric care, dental care, and “true family planning service,” compared to Planned Parenthood’s clinics.

The three primary sponsors of the senate bill are Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, and Senator Troy Singleton, all Democrats.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey said Planned Parenthood were “forced out” of the federal Title X family planning program, making it impossible for patients to come to Planned Parenthood to access affordable care through Title X.

Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, vice president of public affairs with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, thanked the Senate Budget Committee for “standing up for Planned Parenthood’s patients, who need and deserve affordable reproductive health care.”

By Daniel Hubbard, staff writer