NY mayor pledges up to $250K to Planned Parenthood

NEW YORK (AP) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pledged to match up to a quarter-million dollars in donations to Planned Parenthood to offset funds that were cut by the Susan G. Komen (KOH'-men) for the Cure breast cancer foundation.

Spokeswoman Samantha Levine said Thursday the mayor has promised to match future donations to the organization.

Planned Parenthood uses the money for breast cancer screenings.

The Komen foundation said it was cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood because of new criteria for giving grants. Critics accused it of bowing to pressure from anti-abortion activists.

Bloomberg said politics have no place in health care and that lives are at stake.

Planned Parenthood said it was grateful for Bloomberg's pledge. It was first reported by The New York Times.