Watson Coleman: Governor's Medicaid Plan Highlights His Lack of Support for Women's Health Care

(Trenton) - Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) released the following statement Tuesday after the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony on Gov. Chris Christie's plan to slash health care for New Jersey's poorest residents:

"It should surprise no one that the governor wants to attack health care coverage for New Jersey's neediest residents. Medicaid is the most common source of health coverage for women in poverty, and this governor certainly doesn't support women's health care needs.

"According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Health Survey, nearly three-fourths of poor women and half of nearly poor women are either uninsured or on Medicaid. The availability of Medicaid, which covers 38 percent of poor women and 16 percent of nearly poor women, gives coverage to many women with limited resources.

"The governor is certainly consistent in his endearing support for New Jersey's wealthiest residents and equally consistent with his disregard for working class and poor families. He needs to start putting hard-working New Jerseyans first and foremost, and he can begin doing that by reworking this anti-working class plan."