With Roe v. Wade Hanging in the Balance, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli Promotes Radical Anti-Choice Agenda

TRENTON — On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear a case on a draconian Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. This decision provides the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which includes Trump-appointed justice and abortion critic Amy Coney Barrett, with an opportunity to overturn or significantly weaken Roe v. Wade.

Like Trump and Christie, Republican gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli has wasted no time in touting an anti-choice agenda and his plans to dismantle the rights of New Jersey women.

In doing so, the Assemblyman has pledged to impose Christie-era funding cuts to women’s health care and family planning services, publicly opposed legislation that guarantees reproductive freedom as a matter of state law, and vowed to sign a 20-week abortion ban — a priority for anti-choice groups.

Despite two-thirds of New Jerseyans supporting legislation that ensures reproductive health care access for all, Assemblyman Ciattarelli has falsely characterized the Reproductive Freedom Act as “extreme,” stating “nobody believes in that no matter where they are on the political spectrum.” While Governor Murphy is fighting to protect and expand reproductive rights, Assemblyman Ciattarelli is promoting right-wing policies that would have disastrous consequences.

“The fact is Assemblyman Ciattarelli stands in lockstep with Donald Trump and Chris Christie in defunding women’s health care and restricting reproductive freedom,” said Murphy for Governor Spokesman Jerrel Harvey. “The Assemblyman has thrown his weight behind a anti-choice agenda that is out-of-touch and would drag New Jersey backward. Voters will support the candidate with a demonstrated track-record of protecting their reproductive rights, not selling them out to the far-right.”