In his inaugural address nearly one month ago, Gov. Phil Murphy implored the state Legislature to act swiftly and send him a bill restoring $7.5 million in funding to family planning and health clinics in New Jersey.

On Thursday, lawmakers completed the task, rounding out an eight-year effort to reverse former Republican Gov. Chris Christie's cuts to clinics that provide birth control and health screenings to thousands of uninsured women.

The state Assembly passed the bill (S120) 47-20 with six abstentions Thursday afternoon. The Senate approved it earlier this month. Both houses are controlled by Democrats.

"Access to preventative screenings, routine exams and low-cost birth control are often scarce in many communities, but particularly so since the Christie administration cut funding for women's health, forcing the closure of a number of women's health centers throughout the state," said Assemblywoman Joann Downey, D-Monmouth, one of the bill's sponsors. "Now we finally have the chance to make good on our promise to restore this funding once and for all."

The family planning measure will be among the first batch of bills to hit Murphy's desk. Murphy, a Democrat, is expected to sign the legislation into law, possibly as early as next week.

Christie eliminated the funding shortly after taking office as part of an array of budget cuts, including $100 million for a homebuyer tax credit, to close a post-recession deficit. At the time, he said the cut was purely a financial decision. But as his "tell it like it is" presidential campaign geared up in 2015, Christie touted the cuts in furthering his anti-abortion credentials.

Year after year, Christie snuffed out Democrats' attempts to reinsert the funding into the budget with vetoes they didn't have the votes to override.

But in November, New Jerseyans elected a Democrat who pledged his support to Planned Parenthood.

"Women are dying in this state thanks to the cuts that the governor and the lieutenant governor have endorsed now for seven-and-a-half years," Murphy said after receiving the group's endorsement. "This is life and death. This is really life and death. They put a lot of women at stake."

The grants were split among 58 clinics, including some run by Planned Parenthood, to pay for preventive health screenings and birth control. The law prevents the money to be used for abortions, but organizations like New Jersey Right to Life protested, arguing no abortion provider should benefit from public funding.

Six of the 58 clinics in New Jersey closed and 14 others scaled back their hours and services after losing their share of the grant money, according to a report by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Planned Parenthood leaders have said they're assessing whether they will reopen clinics and "where there is the greatest need."

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi R-Bergen and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz R-Union, voted against restoring the grants because Planned Parenthood officials refused to provide information about its financial records or explain how the money would be spent.

"I had planned to vote in favor of the appropriation. But it was the lack of transparency and the lack of respect to the women in my caucus for refusing to cooperate, respond, or even acknowledge our communication," Schepisi said. "Anybody who gets public money, any organization, you gotta be beyond transparent, and if you are refusing to, it immediately makes you suspect."

Schepisi sai she was "sad" about voting against the measure. "I am somebody who is not against Planned Parenthood. I believe they do good things and help women who need help."

Marie Tasy, executive director for New Jersey Right to Life, criticized the vote, noting the cozy relationship between Gov. Phil Murphy and Planned Parenthood's CEO, Triste Brooks, who served on his unpaid transition team prior to him taking office Jan. 16.

Tasy questioned whether the money would go into Brooks' pocket.

"It is not a good reflection on the new Governor and his administration that he appointed Planned Parenthood's CEO, Triste Brooks to his Health Care Transition Team, who stands to benefit directly by the use of taxpayer money, which will pay her already exorbitant salary and fund her organization," Tasy said. "How can this not be a conflict of interest?"

The Assembly also gave final approval to (A1656), which allows women with slightly higher incomes than Medicaid normally allows to qualify for coverage. It was approved 52-20. The federal government pays 90 percent of the cost of this expansion

"Not only is this funding a compassionate move, it's a financially prudent one, as well," Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, D-Essex, said, one of the sponsors. "We can't leave this money sitting on the table when women's health centers throughout the state have been forced to close or turn patients away. This is an investment well worth making on behalf of struggling women and families across New Jersey."

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com . Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.

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