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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 14 January 2020
Vote on NJ bill to bar certain vaccine exemptions stalled

By MIKE CATALINI vary by state. Forty-five
Associated Press states and the District of
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Columbia allow for reli-
Jersey lawmakers post- gious exemptions to immu-
poned an expected vote nizations, according to the
on a bill to eliminate most conference.
religious exemptions for According to New Jersey's
vaccines for schoolchil- Health Department, there
dren saying they lacked are about 14,000 students
the votes, and leading to who had a religious ex-
raucous cheers from oppo- emption in 2018-2019. That's
nents who had encircled 2.6% of the total number of
the Statehouse with flags, enrolled students.
bullhorns and banners. It's unclear whether Dem-
Democratic Senate Presi- ocratic Gov. Phil Murphy
dent Steve Sweeney and would support or reject the
Majority Leader Loretta measure. His office did not
Weinberg said late Mon- return a message seeking
day that there was a lot comment.
of "misinformation" getting The bill gained traction last
around, leading to law- year amid a nationwide
makers withholding sup- measles outbreak. The
port for the measure that Centers for Disease Con-
had already passed in the trol and Prevention said it
Assembly. was the greatest number
For the third time in a of measles cases reported
month, the opponents since 1992; New Jersey
homed in on the capitol was among the hardest-hit
complex and lobbed ar- states. Democrats will re-
gument after argument at People hold signs during a protest at the state house in Trenton, N.J., Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. main in control in the new
state lawmakers, including Associated Press session in Trenton, though
that their religious freedom they lost two Assembly
was being violated by the children who had vaccine- New Jersey would join five Every state requires some seats and a Senate post in
measure. When it became related injuries. other states, including Cali- vaccines for students, ac- November's election. Both
clear that the bill would not Despite the last-minute fornia and New York, to do cording to the National chambers must pass the bill
get a vote, they cheered changes, opponents away with a religious ex- Conference of State Leg- Monday to send it to Mur-
and applauded so loudly crowded the Statehouse, emption. islatures, but exemptions phy's desk.q
that it could be heard in- even arranging for por-
side the Senate chamber. table toilets to be brought
"They can stand outside in. They circled the build-
and ring sirens and beat ing, and their chanting was
pots and believe what they so loud that it made the
want to believe but our re- proceedings in the Senate
sponsibility is to protect the chamber difficult to hear.
larger residents of the state "My choice, my God," they
of New Jersey, and that's chanted, along with signs
what we're going to do," that read: "I'm the parent. I
Weinberg said. call the shots" and "In God
Monday was the final We Trust."
meeting of the Legislature's The crowd also broke out
current session, with a new into song and prayer, in-
one beginning Tuesday. cluding "The Star-Spangled
That means any bill would Banner" and the Lord's
have to be reintroduced Prayer.
and wind its way through They argue that the mea-
the process yet again. sure infringes on their rights
Sweeney promised to do as parents to decide what's
that. He also said he would best for their children. They
bring in medical doctors also say they oppose the
and other experts to re- amended bill because it
spond to all the opponents' helps only wealthier fami-
concerns. lies who can afford to send
The legislation as initially their kids to private schools.
written would have ended Lawmakers who support
a religious exemption to the bill say it is necessary
vaccine requirements for to keep children safe amid
children attending any recent outbreaks of some
school in the state, but law- vaccine-preventable dis-
makers amended the bill eases. They have criticized
last week to allow exemp- "misinformation and hyste-
tions for pupils at private ria swirling" around the bill.
schools and for siblings of If the bill becomes law,