State lawmaker from Apollo proposes pro-life license plate
A state legislator from Apollo has introduced a bill to authorize a pro-life license plate with proceeds going to adoption agencies across the state.
The proposed 'A friend for life' special-fund license plate was introduced by state Rep. Jeff Coleman, R-Apollo. Under Coleman's plan, funds from the license plate would go to nonprofit adoption agencies that do not promote abortion as an alternative.
Each license plate costs $35, and $15 would go toward adoption agencies.
'The message is positive,' Coleman said. 'It is important to make sure that abortion alternatives are supported.'
Opponents of the bill said they support adoption funding, but they believe if there is a pro-life license plate there should be a pro-choice license plate, too. Pro-choice advocates also said abortion is a private, medical issue between a woman and her body.
'This is an issue the government should not be involved in,' said Kim Evert, executive director of Planned Parenthood in western Pennsylvania. 'I think it's inappropriate.'
A similar 'Choose Life' license plate was introduced last session but did not pass, said state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry.
Coleman said his bill has more than 50 co-sponsors and has solid bipartisan support.
Reps. Joe Petrarca, D-Vandergrift, and Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, did not return calls Friday for comment.
The first special-fund license plates' proceeds supported wildlife conservation and featured an owl as the symbol. About 230,000 of those plates were sold until the otter replaced it as a symbol in 2000.
Other license plates such as Zoological, DARE and Heritage have sold a total of 186,000 plates and raised about $2.79 million for designated organizations, according to PennDOT statistics.
PennDOT does not decide what plates are used because special-fund plates are legislated, said Kurt Myers, director of the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Six special-fund plates have been issued in the state since December 1993, according to PennDOT. Four are still available.
The volume of special license plates makes it difficult for law-enforcement officials to identify motorists, Myers said.
'We have the same concern as the state police,' Myers said. 'We work on a license plate for its ability to be identified.'
Coleman said the design for 'A friend for life' license plate was made with state police in mind. 'We proposed a very simple, crisp design with state colors in an effort to make it simple for law enforcement to target lawbreakers,' Coleman said.
Metcalfe said the license plate promotes the preciousness of life.
'Our (national) declaration talks about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' Metcalfe said. 'Life should be promoted. This license plate would promote the choice for life.'
