TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey will be a safe haven for abortion rights. Gov. Phil Murphy signed two bills into law Friday that protect patients and providers from out-of-state prosecution.
The bills passed both chambers of the state legislature this week, and Murphy wasted no time putting his signature on them. The first bill prevents New Jersey from extraditing someone back to their home state where abortion is illegal. The other prohibits sharing patient or doctor information for out-of-state investigations.
"We say no way, no how, not here," said Murphy. "These laws will make New Jersey a beacon for every American woman."
Murphy said he was extremely angry and disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade that place governance over abortion with the states.
New Jersey has no restrictions on abortion and has one of the highest abortion rates in the country with about one-third of pregnancies ending in abortion.
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"As overwhelmingly angry as I am, and I am, and I know you all are, that I even have to sign these bills ... I am equally as proud to do so," he said.
"Because we anticipated this ruling, we have made sure our state law protects a woman's right to an abortion. We unequivocally extend this protection to every American woman. No questions asked."
President Joe Biden met virtually Friday with Democratic governors from other states, encouraging them to do what New Jersey has done.
However, he acknowledged that Senate Democrats don't have the votes to overturn the filibuster and pass federal abortion rights legislation, and stressed it's up to voters to turn out in November and add to their margin in the Senate.