Missouri Choose Life Plate Supporters Try New Avenue for Approval

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 1, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Missouri Choose Life Plate Supporters Try New Avenue for Approval Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 1, 2005

Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) — Pro-life advocates are hoping a new state law will pave their way to be able to sell Choose Life license plates in the Show Me State. The new efforts comes after the state legislature denied previous tries at establishing the plate.

After lawmakers approved a bill allowing the Department of Revenue to also approve license plates, nonprofit groups can now try to get their own license plates by paying $5,000 and finding 200 people who will commit to purchasing them.

Lawmakers proposed legislation this year to create the pro-life plates but ran into roadblocks.

As a result, Kevin Roach, an economics student at Washington University in St. Louis, told the Associated Press he’s trying his own idea. He created a nonprofit group in February to promote the plates.

He’s hopeful the pro-life license plate will join the 164 already approved for sale in the state.

The new law allowing groups to go to the Department of Revenue still requires the legislature’s input as the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight must unanimously approve the plate.

Any one member could halt the plate’s prospects and five House members or two senators could also sign a petition blocking the plate.

In fact, the Associated Press reports that Roach’s idea may already be doomed as Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis, a committee member, has pledged to vote against it. Rep. Mike Daus, D-St. Louis also said he would vote against the plate unless a pro-abortion counterpart is allowed.

The committee is expected to consider the plate in January 2006.

For now, it appears Roach’s efforts will be derailed and pro-life lawmakers will need to try to approve a plate through the traditional legislative process.

In 1999, pro-life lawmakers floated bills to create a Respect Life license plate that would send $25 per plate to the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Support Fund dedicated for pregnancy centers helping women find abortion alternatives.

However, former Gov. Mel Carnahan, a pro-abortion Democrat, vetoed the bills.

Related web sites:
Choose Life Missouri – https://www.chooselifemissouri.org