Pallone Condemns Christie Cuts To Medicaid & Women's Health Programs

Trenton, NJ - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. issued the following statement on Monday in conjunction with his participation in a Trenton rally urging the governor to back away from his refusal to fund women's health programs and his plan to make draconian cuts to Medicaid.

"The combined impact of cuts to women health centers and to NJ FamilyCare will have a devastating impact on the health and well being of countless women in New Jersey. These cuts are not only inhumane, they will do nothing to help the state's budget. The cuts will actually 'cost' the state's budget because they often mean the loss of federal matching funds. And the long-term costs of women and others being denied preventive care and early intervention will result in greater medical costs down the road. Remember, medical expenses don't go away, they just get shifted to hospitals and others.

"We can't discuss women's health without talking about the vital role of women's health clinics and family planning agencies. They provide services that can be life saving, including mammograms, prenatal care, family planning and cancer screening. If these clinics disappear, so will one of the smartest preventive services in New Jersey. The governor's continued refusal to provide what is really a modest investment in these clinics is supremely unwise.

"The draconian cuts to NJ FamilyCare is especially offensive to me. I co-authored the federal legislation that led to Family Care in New Jersey. More importantly, the many women and their children who have participated in the program could be endangered by the loss of medical care. His plan will pick on the most needy, including single mothers and the working poor. No one should be balancing budgets on the backs of women, children or low-income families."