Abortion-Rights Groups Criticize Va. Gov. Kaine For Support Of 'Choose Life' License Plates

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 02 Apr 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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Abortion-rights groups are expressing disappointment in Democratic National Committee Chair and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's (D) decision this week to sign legislation allowing the sale of specialty license plates that will fund antiabortion-rights crisis pregnancy centers, Politico reports (Barr, Politico, 3/30). The Washington Post reports that $15 of the $25 annual fee for each license plate, after the first 1,000 are sold, will go to Heartbeat International, a Christian pregnancy resource organization. The money would then be distributed to about 40 centers in Virginia that meet the group's standards (Kumar, Washington Post, 3/30). Kaine -- a Roman Catholic who has said he is personally opposed to abortion but supports abortion rights -- said he chose to sign the legislation "in keeping with [Virginia's] longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages" (Politico, 3/30).

According to the Post, reaction to Kaine's decision "illustrated the challenge [he] faces in trying to balance elected office with his new national political job" as DNC chair (Washington Post, 3/30). Politico reports that the move "could echo among women's activists, who are among the most powerful financial supporters of the party." Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said, "It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women's health." NARAL funneled more than 17,000 e-mails and 200 calls to the DNC urging Kaine to veto the bill. Paulette McElwain, president of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, said, "It is surprising that Gov. Kaine would do this, but it's all the more surprising that he would do it as chair of the DNC," adding that the group is "terribly disappointed that he decided to sign it" (Politico, 3/30). Jessica Honke, director of public policy for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said, "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."

Virginia offers more than 200 specialty license plates supporting various groups. Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, which supports the Choose Life plates, said the revenue from the new plates "will provide private-sector funding, not tax dollars, to organizations that support families caught in crisis situations" (Washington Post, 3/30).

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