Give 'em hell, Janet

Hat tip to Progressive Pulse for coverage of a bold move by Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina. Read all about it.

The Republican-controlled legislature made it clear they did not want spend any money to fund Planned Parenthood in their new budget. Now it appears they will have to spend money fighting the organization in court. Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina (PPCNC) filed suit Thursday in federal court to invalidate part of the budget that cuts off federal and state funds for family planning.

Republicans in Raleigh have what can only be called an abortion fetish, free to run roughshod over poor people and women without restraint. But when they picked a fight this year with Janet Colm, president and CEO of PPCNC, they picked a fight with the wrong person. Janet is the most effective and toughest executive I've ever met, and she doesn't take crap from anyone.

Here's her letter:

Dear Patients and Friends,

I wanted to communicate directly with you. Today, we filed suit against the state of North Carolina for defunding Planned Parenthood and denying life-saving health care to some of our most vulnerable patients.

For almost 30 years, Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina (PPCNC) has been here as your trusted provider of health care and education. Last year PPCNC provided more than 11,000 medical visits.

Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina has participated for years in state programs through which low-income women and men receive family planning health and education services, including life-saving cancer screening, annual exams and contraceptives.

Unfortunately, at a time when we know more people are in desperate need of access to high quality health care, not less, the North Carolina legislature overrode Governor Perdue’s veto and passed a state budget that takes these essential funds away from Planned Parenthood.

We're fighting for you! Our patients deserve to receive cervical cancer screenings, breast exams, sex education, STD testing and treatment, and family planning from the provider they trust.

Our number one priority is our patients. Our Board of Directors voted unanimously to absorb the state and federal funds we're losing for up to two months. This gives the court time to act on our request for a temporary injunction while the lawsuit is heard.

We intend to win the lawsuit. And we intend to be here for you.

Sincerely,

Janet Colm
CEO& President

If you want to help, please send a contribution to PPCNC today.