(VIDEO: SCHULMAN GOING AFTER STARK UNITED WAY) -CANTON CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ALLEN SCHULMAN TAKES ON UNITED WAY OF STARK COUNTY FOR "DEFUNDING" PLANNED PARENTHOOD. WILL HE BE ASKING CITY OF CANTON EMPLOYEES AND STARK COUNTIANS TO CONSIDER NOT CONTRIBUTING TO UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL FUND DRIVE?

UPDATE

ORIGINAL BLOG

Last night a firestorm broke out at Canton's city council meeting when Council President Allen Schulman leveled a blast at United Way of Stark County (UWSC) for its decision to defund Planned Parenthood of Stark County.



Why would United Way decide to defund Planned Parenthood?

Because of the organization's peripheral involvement in counseling and assisting women with abortions.

Planned Parenthood counters that its abortion work is limited to about 3% of its clients.  Moreover, it points to the many other women's health services it provides.

Who is putting political pressure on the likes of Stark County's United Way to deny Planned Parenthood funding?

Answer:  the "politicized" element of the religious right in America.  Here is a typical quote:

"You don't have to be a Biblical scholar to know that we are on the verge of seeing the wrath and punishment of God unleashed on this wicked nation at any moment. Every 24 hours we slaughter approximately 4,000 innocent babies. Where is the outrage about that in the media, in the halls of Congress? Sadly, society doesn't even give it a second thought and has fully embraced this 'culture of death' which hangs over this nation like a black cloud."  (Evangelist Bill Keller)

The first step of the United Way decision was actually made as Stark County's leading nonprofit charitable agency announced at the beginning of its 2011 annual fund drive that it had "reclassified" Planned Parenthood of Stark County (PPSC) as an "affiliate" which means that Planned Parenthood will have to apply for a United Way grant each year and will not automatically be included in the agency's annual distribution of Stark County citizen contributed funds.

In October, 2010 UWSC announced it would no longer giving PPSC approximately $140,000 annually as a matter of course, but did soften the blow by making a two year grant of $140,000 which meant that there was an immediate cut of $70,000 annually.

The grant runs out in March of 2013.

Apparently, the timing of Schulman's outcry against United Way's action is designed to coincide with UWSC's upcoming 2013 annual fund drive.

It is interesting to note that United Way's action vis-a-vis Planned Parenthood actually preceded the national firestorm which erupted when the Susan G. Komen Foundation (Komen) on January 31, 2012 decided to quit funding Planned Parenthood.  Later the decision was reversed but Komen suffered damage in its fund-raising efforts which linger to this very day, to wit:  (Amid resignation, Susan G. Komen CEO 'still doesn't get it,'  Tripp Frohlichstein, August 10, 2012)

She still doesn't get it. I am talking about Nancy Brinker [sister of Susan G. Komen who died of cancer in 1982] who finally announced her resignation as CEO of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure [of breast cancer]. Also departing are the breast cancer foundation's president and two board members.

Why doesn't she get it? Because she says these resignations had nothing to do with the controversy earlier this year when Komen announced it would cut funding of Planned Parenthood. Under immense pressure, it reversed its decision.

But the damage was done.   The Wall Street Journal reports that fundraising is down across the country. Certainly, a lot has to do with the way Komen mishandled the crisis.  (emphasis added)

So the question for Stark County is whether or not Schulman will ratchet up the pressure on United Way Stark County if it does not do a Susan G. Komen-like reversal in putting Planned Parenthood of Stark County back on its listed of annual donees?

As noted from the video above, Schulman (who a a non voting member of council, absent a tie) says that a resolution will be offered at Canton City Council's September 10th meeting taking UWSC to task.

A hint of controversy surfaced after Schulman's outburst on United Way when Majority Leader David Dougherty (Ward 6) cautioned Schulman on the offering of a resolution plan.

However, before Schulman spoke, Councilman John Mariol, II (Ward 7) spoke up in favor of United Way funding for Planned Parenthood of Stark County.

Schulman told the SCPR after last night's meeting that if United Way does not mend its ways, he will be calling for Cantonians/Stark Countians to consider not contributing to the annual United Way drive.

Speaking at last night's meeting was Elizabeth Bowen, Regional Director of Health Center Operations for Planned Parenthood Stark County.



For Stark Countians the question is whether or not a war is about to break out between Schulman and United Way and perhaps Schulman and Majority Leader Dougherty and maybe other members of council?

Stay tuned!