Murphy warns that GOP legislature would cut Planned Parenthood funding

With control of the state legislature to be decided in just two weeks, Democrats are trying to make abortion access an increasingly pivotal issue in this year’s off-year, low-turnout election.

In an interview with the Star-Ledger editorial board, Senate Minority Leader Anthony M. Bucco described how, in a Republican-controlled legislature, late-term abortions and taxpayer funding could be on the chopping board.

“There is no way you’re going to muster enough votes in the Legislature to change the policy of New Jersey,” Bucco said in the interview. “Now, you may get some of the extreme stuff taken out, like late term-abortions — abortion right up until the point of delivery,” Bucco said in the interview. “You might get something like that.”

Republicans could also go after “maybe taxpayer funding” for abortions, Bucco said.

Saddled with some issues that could tilt in favor of the GOP – parental rights, gender identity, dead whales and dolphins, gas stoves, and taxes — Democrats are counting on abortion to motivate their base.

“Senator Bucco has now confirmed that if Republicans gain control of the State Senate, state funding for women’s health care and Planned Parenthood is on the chopping block,” Gov. Phil Murphy said today. “It’s never been more clear that abortion access is on the ballot. We cannot afford to go backwards, and that’s why Democrats must come out and vote in this election to protect our freedom from extreme Republican attacks.”

In the lead-up to this year’s election, the Murphy Administration has increasingly focused on signing legislation that expands and protects reproductive healthcare.

Murphy will be at an event this morning in Glen Rock to sign legislation that expands reproductive healthcare; he is also expected to deliver remarks about abortion access.

Today’s event is in the competitive 38th district – Murphy will be joined by the district’s State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Bergenfield) and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn).  All three are Republican targets in the November 7 general election.

Democrats and related groups running in this year’s most competitive districts – that of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 16th – have made abortion a key issue in their events and their ads.

A new ad in the 3rd district paid for by Brighter Future Forward, a Democratic-aligned political organization, uses former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg to deliver a powerful ad attacking Republican State Sen. Edward Durr (R-Logan) on abortion issues.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ has endorsed the entire slate of Democrats running in those districts.