Planned Parenthood activists gathered in Trenton Thursday to call on lawmakers to include money to cover family planning service into the state budget for next year.
Scores of women donning pink shirts demonstrated out in front of the New Jersey State House. The activists have just about two weeks to convince legislators to override a veto issued by Gov. Chris Christie and give money for Planned Parenthood.
The New Jersey state budget must be signed by the end of June.
The Christie administration cut $7 million for family planning in 2010. The governor recently vetoed a plan to restore that money. He has said that he cut “irresponsible spending” because there are clinics already currently providing the health services, including Planned Parenthood.
But activists attribute those cuts to the rise in STD and cancer cases in the state.
Now that Planned Parenthood is facing cuts at the federal level, top New Jersey legislators think an override could be successful this time.
“We are going to win this battle. We are going to do an override this year,” says state Sen. Loretta Weinberg.
Planned Parenthood says more than 90,000 people visit its health clinics in New Jersey every year.