Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Friday that his office has raised more than $30,000 from anti-abortion “Choose Life” license plates since sales began in late 2011.
A “Choose Life” advisory committee – appointed by Abbott and responsible for distributing the funds – joined him at the press conference.
Criteria for the organizations that will receive the money are still being decided, but Abbott said that the funds are intended for groups that are “committed to both the choose life message as well as aiding the adoption process.”
Such license plates have been a source of controversy. A federal judge in North Carolina ruled last month that “Choose Life” plates are unconstitutional. He called the plates a violation of the first amendment because plates expressing alternate viewpoints were not also offered by the state.
As far as alternate viewpoints go in Texas, Abbott said options are available.
“Look, there are a lot of different messages on a lot of different kind of license plates in the state of Texas, and there’s a process that people can go through to petition the legislature for that,” he said.
But in 2009 the Texas House of Representatives voted down an amendment proposed by Representative Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) to create “Pro-Family, Pro-Choice” customized plates. Since, there have been no bills introduced regarding “Pro-Family, Pro-Choice” plates.
Abbott will join Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst at the “Texas Rally for Life” tomorrow. Organizers expect thousands of people to attend the event.