Breaking: Two dozen Senators call on Komen to reverse Planned Parenthood decision

[ProSense]

Breaking: Two dozen Senators call on Komen to reverse Planned Parenthood decision

By Greg Sargent

The pressure on the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation to reverse its decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings for poor people — a decision which has caused an uproar among women’s groups and on social media — is about to get significantly more intense. Nearly two dozen Senators are set to enter the fray.

I’m told that some 22 Dem Senators have signed on to a very toughly worded letter urging Komen to reverse its decision, which Komen has justified by citing a new rule prohibiting it from funding any group under investigation by the government. (This has conferred legitimacy and signficance on the probe into Planned Parenthood that has been launched by anti-abortion GOP Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida.)

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Raising the stakes, the letter explicitly raises the possibility of “thousands” of women potentially losing access to “potentially life-saving screenings because of a politically motivated attack.” Here’s the letter, sent over by a Senate source:

Dear Ambassador Brinker,

We write to express our disappointment with Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to cut funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers. This troubling decision threatens to reduce access to necessary, life-saving services. We urge Komen to reconsider its decision.

Planned Parenthood is a trusted provider of health care for women and men. More than 90 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are primary and preventative including wellness exams and cancers screenings that save lives. Each year, Planned Parenthood health clinics provide 750,000 breast exams, 770,000 pap tests and nearly 4 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases. Twenty percent of all women in the U.S. have visited a Planned Parenthood health center.

For the past five years, grants to local affiliates of Planned Parenthood have been an important part of Planned Parenthood’s work to protect women from breast cancer. Komen funding for Planned Parenthood has provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and resulted in 6,400 referrals for mammograms. In 2011 alone, grants from Komen provided Planned Parenthood with roughly $650,000 in funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education. According to a recent statement by Komen, “In some areas of the U.S., our affiliates have determined a Planned Parenthood clinic to be the best or only local place where women can receive breast health care.”

It would be tragic if any woman —let alone thousands of women — lost access to these potentially life-saving screenings because of a politically motivated attack.

We earnestly hope that you will put women’s health before partisan politics and reconsider this decision for the sake of the women who depend on both your organizations for access to the health care they need.

The letter is signed by Senators Lautenberg, Murray, Mikulski, Boxer, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Menendez, Wyden, Blumenthal, Shaheen, Begich, merkley, Tester, Akaka, Sanders, (Sherrod) Brown, Leahy, Baucus, Cardin, Feinstein, Franken, and Kerry.

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/breaking-two-dozen-senators-call-on-komen-to-reverse-planned-parenthood-decision/2012/02/02/gIQA5EPnkQ_blog.html

Denver Komen Affiliate Will Continue Providing Grants To Planned Parenthood
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002253401

[Pisces]

1. She didn't look like she was backing down on Andrea Mitchell. He explanation will anger anyone who

was unaware of the whole controversy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. This is an excellent letter.

I doubt that Komen will listen.

I am proud to see that both my CA Senators are here!

[Hepburn]

3. Ditto!

Love Barbara and Diane for going after this BS by Komen!

[ProSense]

7. Yes, it is, and

it's exposes Komen's hypocrisy.

[gateley]

4. Andrea has Murray and Boxer on w/some PP bigwig who is trying to

say "it's not political".

I didn't get to watch because I'm at work and it's hit and miss, but I did catch a glimpse long enough to note Boxer did NOT look pleased!

[Arugula Latte]

11. Wait, a PP bigwig or an SGK bigwig?

Planned Parenthood isn't defending this, are they?

[gateley]

14. I have been doing that ALL DAY LONG! Aaaargh! Thanks! nt

[obamanut2012]

12. You mean SGK -- Planned Parenthood is the victim

[gateley]

15. I just never quit, do I? Maybe I'll finally get it right! Thanks again!! nt

[nykym]

5. For additional information

check out his earlier post by WI DEM;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002256579

Here's my little graphic about the whole thing.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24658994@N07/6807020389/" title="bloodypink-ribbon by a2zclutter, on Flickr"><img src="" width="300" height="300" alt="bloodypink-ribbon"></a>

[sinkingfeeling]

6. But there's probably 4 dozen telling them to stand firm.

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

[Tx4obama]

9. K & R n/t

[Arugula Latte]

10. Yeah! Both of my Oregon senators signed

Good job, boys.

[Raine]

13. However that comes out Komen has screwed itself

but good and shown their UGLY side ... FUCK EM!

[bluestate10]

16. Screw the Senators. Althought I respect them, this is a fight for everyday people.

If the right wants to apply pressure that hurts women and an organization like Komen aids them, then everyone that disagrees with Komen's action must apply pressure where it counts. Stop donating to Komen, stop buying the products of any company that supports Komen. Send donations to organizations that fight cancer through research and screening, and do so without politics. Buy the products of companies that support cancer fighting organizations that don't use politics or rightwing social engineering as the basis for it's decision making.