TRENTON – Senator Wayne R. Bryant, Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding Acting Governor Codey’s State of the State Address today:
“The Governor outlined an ambitious plan to increase our commitment to bring health care services to the underserved inner cities and rural areas through an increase in primary care health centers in New Jersey.
“Having worked with Governor Codey on the original bill to allow these centers to optimize their presence in the community and collect both State funding and federal dollars, I have long held that these centers are at the front line of efforts to bring quality health care to all New Jerseyans.
“In many municipalities throughout our State, these health care centers are the only option for the working poor and Medicaid recipients who cannot afford traditional primary care.
“In his State of the State address, Governor Codey reaffirmed that belief today by calling for the opening of 10 new primary care centers this year, to expand care for 30,000 more residents in the Garden State. I look forward to helping Governor Codey in any way I can to accomplish that goal in 2005.”