JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two organizations dedicated to helping women are at odds. Susan G. Komen for the Cure just announced it will not donate money to Planned Parenthood any longer. The money helped pay for breast cancer screenings.
"We're very disappointed and sad that Komen has succumbed to political pressure and pulled this funding," says Staci Fox with Planned Parenthood of North Florida.
Fox says the political pressure stems from an investigation launched by U.S. Representative, Cliff Stearns, a republican whose district includes part of Alachua County. Stearns is investigating Planned Parenthood for possibly using taxpayer money to pay for abortions. Fox says that allegation is false.
Komen says political pressure is not to blame for the severed ties. The breast cancer charity says it recently decided to stop giving grants to organizations under investigation.
"It just didn't seem to be a good marriage between ending breast cancer and abortion," says Brad Straley from Jacksonville For Life.
Planned Parenthood has been under fire by anti-abortion groups for years. But Fox says 97% of the services offered at Planned Parenthood are preventative. They help low-income women get free cancer screenings and help with family planning.
Without funding from Komen, Fox worries many women will miss out on crucial breast exams. She adds that Planned Parenthood clinics in North Florida will not be affected.
"This isn't just about Planned Parenthood of North Florida," says Fox. "This is about Planned Parenthood and even bigger, this is about women and women's health."
