Signs of N.J. Gov. Christie’s emerging social agenda
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
Two weeks ago, the federal government awarded Governor Christie’s administration nearly $4.7 million for teenage pregnancy prevention programs. But one-fifth of the money comes with one unbreakable string attached.
AP FILE PHOTO
In his first year in office, Christie also drew attention from social advocates by cutting funding to historically protected programs like public schools, health programs for working poor people and legal aliens, and family planning clinics.
Nearly $1 million must be spent teaching kids to say no to premarital sex.
New Jersey had not sought abstinence funding since shortly after Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine took office in 2006, and he stopped competing for it the following year, said Michele Jaker, executive director of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey. "We were among the first states to stop," she said.
The decision to pursue abstinence funding didn’t get much attention as Christie carved himself a national reputation as a fiscal