ELEC report shows pressure on legislative leaders for stalling on health care

Legislature should honor the will of New Jerseyans, advance the Reproductive Freedom Act in the fall

The Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848), which would protect and expand access to reproductive health care including birth control, prenatal care, and abortion, is the only top-ten most-lobbied bill of this legislative session to be stalled without a committee hearing, according to new statistics from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

Both abortion access and the Reproductive Freedom Act itself are overwhelmingly popular among New Jerseyans, showing hesitation comes from elected officials and not their constituents.
The US Supreme Court will hear a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade next term that could overturn almost 50 years of precedent in abortion access.
The Reproductive Freedom Act was introduced over 300 days ago and has not had a committee hearing in either legislative chamber.
All other bills in the top ten list have been passed by at least one house of the legislature or been enacted, except for one — a $0.0025 tax on financial transactions defeated by a Wall Street coalition.

Quote from Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey

“The data from ELEC show that some New Jersey legislators are more responsive to Wall Street and Big Business than to their own constituents asking for action on crucial health care. Two-thirds of New Jerseyans support the Reproductive Freedom Act. We, our legislative champions, and many allies have been tireless in advocating for expanding access to birth control, prenatal care, and abortion. But the legislative leadership has ignored countless calls to take action despite widespread support for the legislation.

New Jerseyans proudly support access to time-sensitive, essential reproductive health care including abortion. With Roe v. Wade under threat in the Supreme Court, the time to protect and expand abortion access is now. We urge the legislative leadership to honor the will of New Jerseyans, and hear and pass the Reproductive Freedom Act as soon as possible.”

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