TRENTON — The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has announced a national expansion that could double the number of abortion clinics it operates in New Jersey from three to six by 2013 and provide a wider array of health care for the tens of thousands of uninsured or low-income people it serves.

Although national and state Planned Parenthood officials say it’s too soon to predict how the expansion will unfold, the news arrives as a high-profile political debate unfolds over whether government should pay for family-planning services, which can include abortion.

Five of the 58 family-planning clinics in the state have closed since Gov. Chris Christie eliminated $7.5 million in grants when the fiscal year began July 1.

Christie does not support abortion rights, but said his decision was driven by the need to help plug a huge budget gap. He said women could find other sources of low-cost birth control and health screenings. None of the grant money directly paid for abortions.

Democrats who control the Legislature said they suspect Christie is hiding his pro-life motives behind the budget. They are testing him again, this time by passing a bill (A3273/S2393), unrelated to Planned Parenthood’s expansion, that would require the state to spend $1.1 million to qualify for $9 million in federal funds that would subsidize family-planning services to more uninsured women.

"There cannot be one rational reason to be against this bill unless you want to make it about pro-choice and pro-life, and it’s not," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg, (D-Bergen), a sponsor.

Marie Tasy of New Jersey Right to Life said she sees this latest bill as another way to underwrite abortions with taxpayer dollars — just as the largest abortion provider in the country will need money to expand its reach.

"To say this has nothing to do with abortions is not being truthful,’’ Tasy said. "Planned Parenthood counsels for abortions. Three of its clinics perform abortions."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• N.J. lawmakers approve bill pushing Gov. Christie to submit federal application for family planning services

• N.J. Assembly approves restoring $5M for family planning services



• N.J. lawmakers look to restore funding to family planning services

• N.J. Senate fails to override Gov. Christie's veto of $7.5M in family planning funds

• N.J. Senate to hold family planning override vote

• N.J. Senate schedules vote to override Gov. Christie's veto of $7.5M family planning funds

While the proposed Planned Parenthood expansion does not depend on the bill, Tasy said the group would undoubtedly benefit from the $9 million in federal aid over the next few years if it passes and is signed by Christie.

"The expansion will be in full swing. Planned Parenthood would be actively involved in expanding its abortion business in New Jersey," Tasy said. "This is something the governor should be aware of."

In addition to the expansion, all 820 Planned Parenthood clinics would also offer "a unified set of core preventive services," including HIV testing, the vaccine to prevent most kinds of the human papilloma virus in girls and young women, screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, and all forms of birth control, according to Lisa David, senior vice president for Health Services Support at the national office.

The national group wants one abortion site operating in each of its 85 regions or affiliates by the end of 2013, David said. New Jersey has five affiliates, and two operate abortion clinics: The Central Jersey affiliate, at its Shrewsbury center in Monmouth County; and the Mercer County affiliate, at its Trenton and Hamilton facilities. That could mean three more abortion sites in the state, unless the affiliates convince the national office more are not needed.

Offering new services following a loss of state aid "is a problem,’’ said Michele Jaker, executive director of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey. "We’re hoping the governor will sign the bill on his desk. That would provide some relief."

Jaker said it is too soon to tell how the national expansion plans will play out in New Jersey, noting the organization is struggling to keep family-planning clinics open. She said clinics closed in Browns Mills, Cherry Hill, Dover, Mount Holly and Millville in 2010, citing the loss of state aid.

New Jersey does not lack abortion services. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, there were 75 nonprofit and for-profit abortion providers that terminated 54,160 pregnancies in 2008, the most recent data available. Abortions have declined since 2005, when there were 61,150 pregnancies terminated by 85 providers.

"During this time period, New Jersey had solid policies in place to ensure that women and their partners had the information and affordable birth control options they needed to prevent unintended pregnancy," Jaker said. "We were among the first states to reject abstinence-only funding, and the state made solid investments in women’s health.’’

But New Jersey has fared poorly in ensuring women get access to pre-pregnancy and prenatal care. New Jersey earned an F grade in a national report card issued in October 2007 by the National Women’s Law Center because 20 percent of women did not receive prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The road block is typically economics and insurance, Weinberg said. "If you’ve got money, everything is available. But if you don’t, we have family-planning centers closing down," she said.

Family-planning clinics offered 130,000 patients a variety of services, including birth control and pregnancy testing, cancer, blood pressure and other health screenings, Jaker said. Clients are most typically women in college or in their 20s who lack health coverage, said Phyllis Kinsler, executive director of the Central Jersey Planned Parenthood affiliate.

Kinsler said the loss of state funding forced some of her centers in Central Jersey to cut their operating hours. She worries the cuts make it harder for women to see a doctor to prevent a pregnancy, which costs less than paying for prenatal care.

"We are not making a lot of sense right now about what we care about and value,’’ Kinsler said. "Something that makes sense we’re making a political issue.’’