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Arkansas Governor Signs 'Choose Life' Plates Into Law

Monday, March 10, 2003

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Gov. Mike Huckabee signed a bill Monday authorizing a "Choose Life" specialty license plate, adding Arkansas to a growing list of states that allow car tags with an anti-abortion slogan.

The plates will cost $35 more than standard license tags, with part of the proceeds to be distributed to nonprofit groups that counsel pregnant women and encourage adoption. No money could go to organizations that promote or provide abortions.

"We believed it was a great opportunity to assist in the adoption process and at the same time make a statement about the sanctity of life," Huckabee said.

Critics have said the plates will likely lead to court battles. The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday it is considering whether to challenge the law on constitutional grounds.

Rita Sklar, the director of the state ACLU chapter, has said the issue is not abortion, but the state taking sides in a political issue — and directing money to it.

"You have the government setting up a scheme whereby it is supporting a particular political point of view. That is improper under the First Amendment," she said Monday.

"Choose Life" license plates have been the subject of court fights in a handful of states in recent years, with some critics arguing that they create the impression of state endorsement of religion. In December, the U.S. Supreme Court ended an attempt to block a similar plate in Louisiana when it decided not to hear the tag opponents' appeal.

At the time, Louisiana was one of seven states authorizing such tags. The others were Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Carolina.