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Associated Press filePlanned Parenthood supporter Peg Paulson of Carmel, Ind., left, and opponent Heather Pruett of Indianapolis argue during a March 2011 rally at the Indiana Statehouse. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates, creating a bitter rift between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.

Less than 24 hours after the national office of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced its decision to no longer give financial support to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for breast cancer screenings, reaction on both sides of the issue has been strong.

Predictably, officials with Planned Parenthood Northeast Ohio -- which does not receive any money from Komen's national offices -- expressed their disappointment.

How do you feel about Komen's decision to stop donating to Planned Parenthood? Send your thoughts on this to healthletters@plaind.com  

"Anti-women's health groups have repeatedly targeted and boycotted [Komen] for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings," said spokeswoman Celeste Ribbins. "For years, opponents of women's health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at [Komen] at the expense of women's health and lives."

In an emailed statement, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said the move was "a paramount victory for the pro-life culture of our nation."

"Here in Ohio we will continue to work to close the doors of abortion clinics by promoting recently introduced House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 201, which would defund Planned Parenthood and divert those funds to public health departments and community health centers," Gonidakis wrote. "Ultimately, our goal is to divert those funds to crisis pregnancy centers."

Today, Komen Northeast Ohio referred all questions to the national office, which largely remained silent. Indeed, its website made no mention of the controversial move.

But in a Tuesday Associated Press story , Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun said the cutoff results from the charity’s newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. Planned Parenthood is the subject of such an investigation launched by a Republican member of Congress from Florida. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether public money was improperly spent on abortions.

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What do I think? I think the Komen foundation has seen its last dollar from me.

Since when is a Republican congressional bozo from Florida an "authority" on anything?

More evidence that yet another organization has caved to the Pro-Fetal-Life groups and have abandoned women in the process. The National Institutes of Health say women need mammograms. Have you ever lost a loved one to breast cancer, or stood by a friend who battled it? Well it's only going to become more difficult now.

All these rights and NEEDS being taken away from women. Yet men continue to go their merry way and have their E.D. meds paid for by insurance (my insurance company is one that pays for it).

Perhaps Komen (an org that will never receive another penny of support from me) should take the money they will no longer give to Planned Parenthood for life saving mammograms and give it to other organizations to help women get mammograms.

I'm so fed up with this country. Other countries laugh at us -- they're amazed at the politics involved in health care -- I have friends and associates throughout Europe and they just shake their heads.

I'm so fed up with this country.

Hi Sharyl - My insurance DOES pay for screenings and I had a mammogram 2 months ago. But what about women who have NO insurance ?

“Over the last five years, Planned Parenthood has provided about 4 million breast exams and referrals for 70,000 mammograms nationwide. Funding from Komen covers about 170,000 of the breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals. Although mammograms and biopsies are referred out, Planned Parenthood doctors manage their patients' cases."

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-planned-parenthood-komen-20120201,0,4104682.story

What do you have against globes?

But in a Jan. 31 story written by the Associated Press, Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun said the cutoff results from the charity’s newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. Planned Parenthood is the subject of such an investigation launched by a Republican member of Congress from Florida. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether public money was improperly spent on abortions.

It's their choice as an organization. We may see them continue funding once the investigation is done. It has to with the question of funding and how it was used. We don't know the full extent yet but I've seen this before. People would jump up and down if they found out these funds were being used to buy new cars or gifts for employees involved. It only makes sense not to get caught up in it financially and this is a smart move. Only the pundits want to turn this into a political moral debate. Funding will continue by next year after its sorted out, I guarantee it.

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