FALLOUT

Komen Founder Defends Decision

To pull funding from Planned Parenthood.

Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen breast-cancer foundation, has come out to defend the organization's decision to stop awarding grant money to Planned Parenthood for breast-cancer screening—a move that many say is backlash against abortion. But in a conference call with the media Thursday night, Brinker said abortion had nothing to do with it, even though Komen's vice president for policy is Karen Handel, an anti-abortion politician. Brinker said the decision was a result of policy changes on how grants are given. The organization faced a revolt from within: all seven of the California affiliates of Komen released statements saying they opposed the decision to pull funding, as did the Aspen and Denver affiliates. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged $250,000 to Planned Parenthood in response, while 26 senators urged Komen to reconsider.