February 16, 2010 6:08 PM
Planned Parenthood loses VA's pro-abortion license plate fees
Part 2 of the VA pro-abortion license plate story:
Information Alert: Planned Parenthood's License Plate Plans Scuttled in HouseThis afternoon, Delegate Robert Brink's (D-48, Arlington) Planned Parenthood license plate was debated on the House floor in preparation for tomorrow's final vote. This bill would create a specialty license plate that reads "Trust Women, Respect Choice." For each plate sold, the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood would receive $15 of the $25 plate fee.
In an interesting turn of events, Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15, Woodstock) offered an amendment to the bill on the floor today to change the specialty plate's recipient from the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood to the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund - a devastating blow to Planned Parenthood.
The Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was created in 2007 to "support women and families who are facing unplanned pregnancy" and is managed by the Board of Health. A brainchild of Senator Phil Puckett (D-38, Tazewell) and Delegate Ward Armstrong (D-10, Martinsville), the overarching goals of the fund are to provide funding for ultrasound machines, parenting programs, domestic violence/sexual assault education, vocational/academic support, and free home visits by nurses.
Delegate Brink considered Delegate Gilbert's amendment an unfriendly amendment and urged its defeat. Delegate David Englin (D-45, Alexandria) argued that the change of the fund was unconstitutional saying that it specifically targeted Planned Parenthood, a misreading of court precedent. Court rulings have said if one viewpoint is allowed on a license plate another viewpoint must also be allowed, but it does not address the funding aspects of the license plates.
Delegate Gilbert responded by saying that the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was a better fit for the language of the plate ("Trust Women, Respect Choice"). Delegate Gilbert, citing Planned Parenthood's opposition to pro-woman legislation including informed consent requirements that do exactly that - trust women - stated that plate funds if directed to Planned Parenthood would not be going to an organization in conformity with the plate's message.
Ironically, in its initial passage, the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund was backed by both Planned Parenthood and The Family Foundation due to the Fund's focus on striving to assist pregnant women.
On a vote of 56-43, Delegate Gilbert's floor amendment was accepted and the bill was then passed along to its third reading and final House vote tomorrow.
Proving that pro-aborts and Planned Parenthood do not support women's right to choose, only the right to kill unborn babies - which generates billions in profits for Planned Parenthood each year.
Posted in Planned Parenthood, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
