The ACLU plans to sue the commonwealth if Governor Bob McDonnell vetoes a bill allowing a pro-choice license plate.
The General Assembly approved the 'Trust Women. Respect Choice.' plate, with proceeds going to Planned Parenthood. After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 from each $25 sale will go to Planned Parenthood. The legislation says the money will be used to provide women's health services.
The organization says denying the plate would be viewpoint discrimination and against the first amendment, since there is already a pro-life license plate.
"The courts can't grant us a plate. Only the lawmakers can grant us a plate.", says David Nova with Planned Parenthood. "The courts will say either everyone gets a plate, or nobody gets a plate. Therefore, if Planned Parenthood can't have a plate then the anti-abortion plate has to go away as well."
When asked directly if McDonnell will sign or veto the legislation, the governor's office issued this statement.
"Virginia has hundreds of specialty license plates that citizens can order. The Governor believes they all should be treated the same by the state. He opposes state funding for abortion services. He will review the final legislation with these principles in mind."
A veto is unlikely, since the bill contains five other specialty plates. Another option the governor has is to amend the wording in the section dealing with the pro-choice plate to exclude abortion from women's health services. Planned Parenthood is agreeable to such a change.
The ACLU sued the State of South Carolina when Planned Parenthood was denied a plate there and won. That state had to pay Planned Parenthood more than $160,000 in court costs and legal fees.
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