N.J. Senate Approves Restoring Funding For Women's Health Clinics

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The New Jersey Senate approved a measure to restore $7.5 million for women's health clinics, but Democrats failed to get a veto-proof majority.

Gov. Chris Christie cut the money from the current year's budget.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck led the push to restore the money. The new effort came after officials determined that state tax revenues were higher than expected.

Democrats have accused Christie of cutting the money to appease the anti-abortion wing of the Republican Party. Some of the clinics perform abortions, although no state money is used for that purpose.

Christie cited the state's dire fiscal conditions as the reason for the cut.

The State Assembly has not yet voted on the measure, which would help keep 52 clinics open that serve poor, young and uninsured women.

Should the money be restored? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)