Sunday, June 6, 2010

“Choose Life” license plates create a stir

Twenty-one states have issued “Choose Life” license plates. Four states have approved the plates and legislation is pending in sixteen others. Where does North Carolina fit in, and why do the plates draw opposition in some circles?

Legislation to issue a pro-life license plate was introduced in both the North Carolina Senate (S210) and House (H168) in February, 2009. The bills are identical. Profits from the “Choose Life” plate go to non-governmental agencies that provide counseling and assistance to pregnant women. Most important, Section 4 of both bills stipulates that funds generated by the sale of the plates cannot be given to any entity that “provides, promotes, counsels, or refers for abortion.”

The House version has gathered dust in the Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committee since the day after its filing. Rep. Bill Owens (D), the committee chair, has refused to move the bill. S210 has fared no better in the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D) from Mecklenburg County. While Owens’ opinion on abortion is obscure, Clodfelter’s is crystal clear. He received NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina’s endorsement during the 2008 election cycle.

Owens and Clodfelter may have unprejudiced reasons for their inaction on “Choose Life” plates. The same can’t be said for Planned Parenthood (PPFA), a vehement opponent of pro-life tags. Their disapproval is spelled out in dollars and cents. Planned Parenthood loathes the idea of proceeds from a government issued license plate supporting organizations that oppose indiscriminate abortion.

What gall! When we follow the money trail we find that Planned Parenthood has no standing to criticize “Choose Life” license plates or the money they supply to pro-life organizations.

Florida began offering the pro-life tags in August of 2000, with each tag delivering $20 to qualified recipients. By April 2010 the Sunshine State had issued or renewed nearly 360,000 “Choose Life” plates, generating over $7 million for Florida’s pro-life community. That’s why Planned Parenthood opposes these tags. Ironically, it’s also why their protests ring hollow.

According to Planned Parenthood’s 2008 Annual Report (p.9), its offices performed 305,310 abortions in 2007. At the median price of $625 per procedure, PPFA grossed more than $190 million from abortion alone. Add to that the $350 million in government grants and funding that PPFA draws annually and the monies generated by the “Choose Life” tags are but a pittance.

Each of the 50 states would have to yield annually what Florida’s “Choose Life” tag produced over a 10-year period just to match PPFA’s yearly government receipts. In fact, Planned Parenthood receives half of its annual revenue from the combination of abortion and government ($540 million). PPFA’s opposition to “Choose Life” tags based on public funding of the pro-life message is therefore dismissible.

Furthermore, “Choose Life” plates force no one to promote a pro-life message. People who don’t want to fund pro-life causes can choose another plate design. Taxpayer’s don’t foot the bill for the “Choose Life” tag, either. Only the profit goes to pro-life causes, meaning the issue price covers the cost of producing the special plate.

Planned Parenthood can’t make that claim. Since PPFA receives funding directly from government, pro-life taxpayers are forced to finance a cause they consider utterly reprehensible.

“Choose Life” license plates are a legitimate outlet for a worthy, peaceful position. S210 and H168 shouldn’t stagnate in committee. They shouldn’t wither due to the inaction of biased or disinterested committee chairs. And the “Choose Life” tag surely shouldn’t succumb to pressure from the duplicitous Planned Parenthood.

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