RICHMOND
Virginia will join 23 states with a "Choose Life" license plate, much to the chagrin of abortion-rights advocates.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Monday that he has signed legislation creating the special license plate, which was sought by conservative legislators and anti-abortion activists.
The Democratic governor said that the General Assembly decided years ago to allow special plates with controversial political and social messages, and that the "Choose Life" license plate should be treated the same.
Among the more than 200 specialty license plates Virginia lawmakers have approved, Kaine noted, are "Sons of Confederate Veterans," "Friends of Tibet" and "Fight Terrorism."
Kaine said the state should not discriminate over issuing special plates espousing widely accepted points of view.
He said free-speech mandates would now require Virginia to issue a specialty plate for Planned Parenthood should the abortion-rights group seek one.
But the organization has no such plans. "Planned Parenthood of Virginia is extremely disappointed with Gov. Kaine's decision," said Jessica Honke, director of public policy for the state group.
"The fact that the governor and the General Assembly wasted time and resources debating whether or not to further fund deceptive, nonmedical establishments is shameful," she said. "Virginia will now have a national reputation as a state that puts ideological policies before women's health."
Kaine's action was lauded by The Family Foundation, a socially conservative lobby in Virginia, and the Virginia Society for Human Life.
The license plates, which will sell for $25 a set, are likely to generate money for the anti-abortion movement.
Proceeds from the first 1,000 sold go to the state. After that, $15 from each sale will be paid to Heartbeat International Inc., according to the legislation.
The anti-abortion organization, based in Columbus, Ohio, will distribute the money to pregnancy crisis centers it is affiliated with in Virginia that counsel against abortion.
"This law will guarantee that more women will receive responsible assistance and information about adoption and other help when making a decision about a difficult pregnancy," said Olivia Gans, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life.
The bill, SB817, was introduced by Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Westmoreland. It passed the House and Senate by wide, veto-proof margins.
Kaine has said that he personally opposes abortion but does not think the procedure should be outlawed.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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"there were no terrorist attacks on US soil after 9/11"?
We were attacked with anthrax after 9-11.
stay on point
I was referring to the fact that Governor Kaine was was comparing a Sons of Confederate Veterans plate to a "fight terrorism" plate. I didn't see the connection. However, since you brought it up... World Trade Center bombing in '93: We put some people in jail. 18 Soldiers killed in Mogadishu in'93: We left with our tails between our legs. OPM/SANG building bombing in Riyadh in '95: We did nothing. Khobar Towers bombing in '96: We indicted some folks. Embassy bombings in East Africa in '98: we lobbed missiles into some tents in Afghanistan and into an aspirin factory in the Sudan. Attack and near sinking of the USS Cole resulting in the deaths of 17 sailors: we did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Who was President then? I believe it was Bill Clinton. His weakness in fighting terrorism lead directly to 9/11, the planning for which was done largely on his watch. www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf. Feel free to check it out. Bush made a lot of mistakes - I spent a lot of time in Iraq as a result of some - but what is not debatable is that there were no terrorist attacks on US soil after 9/11.
"fighting terrorism is controversial"?
Bush did not fight terrorism prior to 9-11.
CONTROVERSIAL?
"Among the more than 200 specialty license plates Virginia lawmakers have approved, Kaine noted, are "Sons of Confederate Veterans," "Friends of Tibet" and "Fight Terrorism.""
I'd like to know why Governor Kaine seems to believe fighting terrorism is controversial.
"choosing choice helps cut traffic "
Why can't we just design our own plates. I'd like mine in a cloisonné pattern.
What date did the...
bible thumpers change from conservatives to liberals?
I didn't get the memo.
ROFL!
Choose life....or else!
Choose life...it's your perogative.
Now, however an individual CHOOSES to interpret "Choose Life" is of their own accord. They just aren't CHOOSING to agree with you interpretation.
You forgot one. How about...
"Choose not to buy this particular style of license plate thus thwarting the idiotic Governor Kaine's attempt at cramming his pro-life stance down your throat by pandering to the pro-life activists among us who will undoubtedly proudly display this plate, customized with bible verse references, that they wish to cram down our throats" ? It's a win-win situation for the bible-thumping liberals! [/sarcasm]
evanj
Are you willing to fully discuss Sun Hudson? All the others run away rather than fully discuss how the supposed pro-life movement does not mind killing living babies.
No, I don't they are...
missing the point.
Let's use the word "Choose" in two sentences:
Choose life....or else!
Choose life...it's your perogative.
Now, however an individual CHOOSES to interpret "Choose Life" is of their own accord. They just aren't CHOOSING to agree with you interpretation.
No, it isn't
I really wish the government would not take sides on abortion rights, which are founded on religious issues.
No it isn't. Some religion groups being activist about a particular issue does not make it a religious issue. That's an associative fallacy used by a small number of pro choice organizations to use bigotry to push their position.
I think some are missing the point here...
The first word is "Choose." Freedom to choose is what makes this country great. While this plate does lean toward anti-abortion, it is still very open and it does not say "Stop Abortion." It simply reminds us that life is an option, not a requirement.
Now had it been "Force Life" maybe people could complain. But then again, I've noticed that the Pilot can write an article about anything here and most of the same people would complain about it. Go figure.
I'm sure some "pro choice" plates will emerge sooner or later. I hope you complainers will be able to sleep at night when they do.
what's next?
Legalize Drugs?
If we are going to have that we also should get one "Choice Matters"
This is just another example of how horrible this governor is. I will ALWAYS regret voting for him.
Religious Issues
I really wish the government would not take sides on abortion rights, which are founded on religious issues. No matter which side one supports, when one viewpoint gets a state supported license plate, the opposite viewpoint will be upset. Why can't they pick something less controversial?
OH!!!
I want a Roe v. Wade liocense plate!!!
Um...what?
Where were all these supposed pro-life people when living baby Sun Hudson...
Whatever irrational attempts at argument web site you've been reading...pick a different one.
choose life?,,,,, hardly!
Where were all these supposed pro-life people when living baby Sun Hudson was deliberately killed in Texas against the mother's wishes because he was an inconvenience to the state? They claim to be protecting the fetus because they claim it is a baby but when it came time to protect a living baby, they kept mighty silent.
How about a "Choose Death"
How about a "Choose Death" license plate?
KLDMYBB
HaHaHa
Very Offended
I am very offended by a license plate that says "CHOOSE LIFE"! Horrible, simply horrible. We should not have to endure reading such radical trash. Give me death or give me liberty.
How about
Can we pick any political issue for a plate? How about "Free Choice", or "Choose Birth Control", or "No Religion in Government". Creating the design would be fun.
How about an anti-Constitution plate for people like you that believe in exclusion based on religion?
Richard1949
Can we pick any political issue for a plate? How about "Free Choice", or "Choose Birth Control", or "No Religion in Government". Creating the design would be fun.