At local level, Komen affiliates express concern about decision

In California, seven Komen groups ask the national breast cancer group to reverse its funding decision. Others report concerns about community support for future money-raising activities.

San Francisco Chronicle: Komen Affiliates Blast Cuts To Planned Parenthood
The California affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Thursday denounced the decision by the breast cancer charity's national headquarters to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood and vowed to keep those services operating. Calling the action by the national organization a misstep, the California group vowed to change the policy and do "whatever it takes to do what is right" for the health of the state's women.  "The seven California Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure are strongly opposed to Komen National's new grant-making policy," the groups said in a message to California's congressional delegation. "We are currently working with our national organization to change the policy" (Colliver, 2/3).

Los Angeles Times: Susan G. Komen For The Cure Founder Defends Planned Parenthood Decision
California affiliates released a statement saying they were strongly opposed to the new policy and were working with national headquarters to resolve it. … Other Komen affiliates posted statements on their Facebook pages, including postings critical of Komen's move … or supportive of Komen (Roan, 2/2).

Houston Chronicle: Houston Affiliates Respond To The Komen, Planned Parenthood Uproar
After 21 years and more than $25 million in grants, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Houston has never awarded money to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast because the health organization has not applied for a grant. That means -; except for the local reaction to a national decision that affiliates didn't see coming -; it's business as usual in Houston, said Betsy Kamin, president of the local Komen board. "The affiliates were not made aware of it in advance, so it was somewhat shocking to us," said Kamin, who added that the local group anticipates backlash, including the loss of financial and community support. "It would be an absolute tragedy for the women we serve to not get funded by the granting process because our local grants are impacted by the decision from national" (George, 2/2).

The Baltimore Sun: Debate Over Komen's Planned Parenthood Decision Grows In Maryland, Nation
The inaugural Susan B. Komen breast cancer race scheduled for Ocean City in April was meant to be a feel-good event promoting a noble cause -; and a way to boost tourism during the resort town's off-season. Now uncertainty surrounds it and other Komen events in Maryland and beyond, as fallout continues from the national organization's recent decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood (Walker, 2/2).

St. Louis Beacon: Progressive Legislative Caucus Blasts Komen Decision
Thirty-four members of the Missouri General Assembly's bipartisan Progressive Caucus have formally asked the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation "to reconsider their decision to cut cancer-screening funding to Planned Parenthood." The group has signed letters sent to the foundation and to its chief executive, Nancy Brinker (Mannies, 2/3).

(St. Paul) Pioneer Press: Komen Controversy Sparks Support For Planned Parenthood Twin Cities Chapter
The Twin Cities chapter of Planned Parenthood did not receive money from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation for its breast cancer screening program, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Even so, the chapter's administrative offices in St. Paul and Minneapolis are being flooded with calls of support, spokeswoman Jennifer Aulwes said.  The local chapter's website traffic Thursday was 70 percent higher than the daily average over the past six months, Aulwes said. (Snowbeck, 2/2).

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reaction Swirls Around State's Planned Parenthood, Komen Groups
Wisconsin Planned Parenthood officials say a decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut funding to its national organization will not affect state breast cancer prevention programs. They have operated without Komen money for several years, said Tanya Atkinson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. Officials with Komen's southeast Wisconsin affiliate, meanwhile, said they hope the decision by their national organization to cut funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America will not affect their popular annual run/walk fundraiser, which raised more than $1 million last year (Fauber, 2/2).