Contact: Marie Tasy, Executive Director, New Jersey Right to Life, 732-562-0562

PISCATAWAY, N.J., May 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- "State and federal lawmakers championing funding for Planned Parenthood have done a grave disservice to women and young girls in our state," said Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life. In early February, a clinic employee at a Planned Parenthood family planning clinic in Perth Amboy, NJ was caught on tape willing to aid and abet in the sex trafficking of minor girls as young as 13. Just last month, the Planned Parenthood family planning clinic in Trenton, NJ was cited for numerous health code violations which have placed the lives and health of women and young girls' in imminent danger.

Some of the deficiencies cited by the NJ Department of Health in their April 7, 2011 survey of Planned Parenthood of Mercer County include the facility's improper use of syringes and compounds, improper training and qualifications of staff on pain management and health care counseling (including abortion services), failure to have infection control program in place, failure to require physical exam for staff and failure to test staff for rubella, rubella and TB tests, medical director's failure to designate a replacement in their absence, failure to ensure adequate protections in place for drug adverse reactions and medication errors, failure to have procedures in place regarding parental and dangerous substances act as required by law, failure to ensure a written agreement with a pharmacy licensed by the NJ State Board of Pharmacy, failure to have adequate infection controls in place, improper use and sterilization of medical instruments and devices, including a vaginal ultrasound, failure to provide evidence that facility is a formal member of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium as required by law, failure to maintain hot running water in patient care areas, and several sanitary and safety violations involving patient care and many other administrative deficiencies.

"Despite the fact that these Planned Parenthood family planning facilities have engaged in practices that place the lives and health of women and young girls in imminent danger, Senator Weinberg, who has enjoyed the support of Planned Parenthood in all her election campaigns and Assemblywoman Linda Stender, whose chief of staff is married to Planned Parenthood's Executive Director, have declared war on the budget and are vowing to shut down the government if taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood is not provided," said Tasy. Likewise, Congressman Rush Holt, who identifies himself as a Board Member of Planned Parenthood of Mercer County, has defended funding of Planned Parenthood and has even written a letter extolling Planned Parenthood's virtues, see link.

"True champions of women would demand that these clinics be shut down immediately instead of pushing for taxpayer funding to keep them in business.  Governor Christie is doing the women of NJ a favor by refusing to fund Planned Parenthood family planning clinics. Lawmakers defending Planned Parenthood and pushing for taxpayer funding of this organization should be held accountable for their advocacy of Planned Parenthood and failure to protect the health and safety of women and young girls," said Marie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life.