Murphy seeks more abortion access in N.J. after SCOTUS decision

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Jun 24, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio The right to an abortion is no longer protected under the constitution. Gov. Phil Murphy today condemned the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade, pushing for lawmakers in Trenton to further expand abortion access in the state, reports POLITICO's Daniel Han. "While New Jersey planned for this eventuality by codifying a woman's right to an abortion under state law, it is incumbent that we do more to fully secure reproductive rights and ensure access to reproductive health care without delay," Murphy said in a statement shortly after the nation's highest court struck down, 5 to 4, the 1973 precedent that guaranteed abortion rights. "Until we do, my administration will take the necessary steps to fully protect both New Jersey's women and those who come to our state to access the freedom which may no longer exist in their home state." Even though the right to an abortion is well protected in New Jersey and has been codified into law, several barriers, particularly financial, remain in accessing the procedure and the focus shifts to just how far the state is willing to go to expand access, including to those who live outside of the state. "Where we can, we will act to protect the rights and privacy of any woman who comes to New Jersey from states in which their rights are now eviscerated, if not entirely erased," Murphy said at a press conference today. Eliminating out-of-pocket costs for abortion on state-regulated health plans and writing into law an expanded pool of abortion providers — both excluded from the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act passed in January — are provisions that Murphy wants to revisit, along with expansive measures he proposed last month that face an uphill battle in becoming law. The Supreme Court's historic ruling will likely upend and dominate congressional races, especially in New Jersey's 7th District, as fears mount that Republicans could institute a national abortion ban. Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski wasted no time in tying his Republican opponent Tom Kean Jr. to passing such a ban should he emerge victorious in November. HAPPY FRIDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, your Playbook PM author. We're adding New Jersey political trivia to this newsletter and will shout out one person who correctly answers the question in the following day's edition. Shout out to Paige Bathurst for correctly answering that former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was a sheriff for Monmouth County. Today's question: How many abortions were provided in New Jersey in 2017? Closest guess to the exact number will be accepted. Send answers and tips to jcustodio@politico.com. We're here with the latest from Trenton and elsewhere as New Jersey moves ahead in the budget process and the Legislature conducts hearings on Gov. Phil Murphy's spending plan. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY CONCEALED CARRY — The governor said today he wants to generally bar guns from private property across New Jersey, including public transit, places that serve alcohol, hospitals, day care centers, stadiums and government buildings. "Allowing ordinary citizens to carry concealed weapons into stores and malls, on mass transit, in day care centers and hospitals, in polling places or in bars and restaurants does not make us safer," Murphy said during a press conference in Trenton. "A right to carry a concealed weapon is, in actuality, a recipe for tragedy." His idea for a broad ban on guns would require new legislation and is the Democratic governor's reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday in favor of gun owners who want to carry their weapons outside the homes. The high court struck down a New York law that made it hard for people to carry handguns in public. New Jersey has a similar law, which has been in place for decades, that says people can only get permits to carry around handguns if they have a justifiable need. The high court's conservative justices said that provision abridges gun owners' Second Amendment rights. But the conservative court, in its 6-3 ruling, also made clear that governments can ban handguns from "sensitive places," such as school and government buildings. State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan, who appeared with Murphy at the press conference, said that the state is expecting an influx of as many as 200,000 people seeking to carry guns around New Jersey and that the police began working with a technology vendor ahead of the ruling to prepare for that surge in applications for weapons permits. That surge worries Murphy and Callahan, who both suggested it could unleash more violence across the state. Right now, if a person has a gun permit, they can generally carry a handgun anywhere they want — but that's because it's been so hard to get a permit. Now that permits will be easier to get, Murphy is looking to restrict the places a gun can go. — Daniel O'Connor and Ry Rivard COVID NUMBERS — New Jersey today reported 2,538 Covid-19 confirmed positive tests and 14 deaths from the virus. The state's seven-day average was down 9 percent from a week ago and 48 percent from a month ago. ON THE BEATS POLICE NEAR POLLING PLACES — New Jersey lawmakers are working quickly to partially roll back a new law that bars police officers from being stationed near polling places after some schools went remote during the June 7 primary. The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee voted 5-0 to approve the measure on Thursday, the same day it was introduced. The bill, NJ S2912 (22R), exempts schools and senior residential centers from the law. The bill comes after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school. Police responding to the scene have come under blistering criticism for how long it took them to engage the shooter. "As the sponsor of the original bill that banned police in polling places, that I do not apologize for because we know the history of the country and even the history in New Jersey," Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) said. But at the same time, when this bill was passed, we did not have the mass shootings that we have experienced recently." Turner said the new bill "is not a rollback, in my opinion. It's a carve-out." While the bill is moving quickly in the Senate, companion legislation has not yet been introduced in the Assembly. — Matt Friedman Around New Jersey N.J. abortion providers ready for surge in out-of-state patients after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade —  NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio: "With the right to an abortion no longer guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, medical providers in New Jersey say they are prepared to accept a surge of patients seeking to terminate their pregnancies from across the country, supported by donors and volunteers who have been on high alert since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in 2020." Murphy administration sends $58.3M to NJ Transit after missing months of payments — The Record's Colleen Wilson: "The Murphy administration is paid up with NJ Transit after missing six months of aid payments. "Agency finance officials told NJ Transit board members at Friday's meeting that they received a $58.3 million payment from the state earlier this month, about a week before the new fiscal year begins. "The missing payments were first reported by NorthJersey.com and the USA Today Network New Jersey in May. "The administration has not said why they stopped paying NJ Transit and did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. The missed payments came at an unusual time because the state is sitting on revenues $7 billion higher than expected. Meanwhile, NJ Transit's passenger revenue was down 10% compared to what was budgeted." Odds and ends — A mother is suing Montclair Public Schools for allegedly failing to protect her Black daughter from bullying over her hair texture and body type. —  They're not exactly pastelitos, but you can get your fill of empanadas at the Northern New Jersey Empanada Festival in Clifton this Saturday. — A cornhole is coming to the American Dream Mall.   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  California Playbook PM  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  New York Playbook PM View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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