Sen. Loretta Weinberg, (D-37), Teaneck, concerned over what she sees as an assault on women’s rights and health by the Republicans at both the state and federal level, convened a roundtable discussion Wednesday.
She said funding cuts made by Gov. Christ Christie at women’s health centers are shortsighted and part of a political agenda.
At a roundtable that included lawmakers and executives involved in health care issues, Weinberg said she wants $7.5 million restored to the budget for women’s and family care centers.
“There not all Planned Parenthood clinics,’’ she said in reference to concerns about money not being used for abortions.
In addition, she said that she wants $1 million put in the budget to be matched by $9 million in federal Medicaid funds that could be used to further provide health care access to poor patients.
She said the purpose of today’s event, in part, is to get the word out about what these cutbacks mean to women.
“What happens to their families happens to our community,” Weinberg said.
Joan Verplanck of Cushman and Wakefield moderated the panel, which included Assemblywomen Linda Stender, Connie Wagner, and Valerie Vanieri-Huttle.
