New Jersey Governor Signs Women’s Health Law

  • Eight years of championing by Democrats were met with veto pen
  • First bill enacted signals turnaround in spending priorities

Phil Murphy 

Photographer: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America
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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy enacted his first law, restoring $7.5 million of funding for women’s health that was vetoed repeatedly by his predecessor Chris Christie.

Christie, a two-term Republican who left office Jan. 16, cut the appropriation from his first budget, saying the state couldn’t afford it. That move led to the closing of six family-planning centers, according to Democratic lawmakers whose annual fight to restore that money was met by Christie vetoes.