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Texas House Approves "Choose Life" License Plate

Photo by Ryland Barton
Photo by Ryland Barton

The Texas House voted 94-29 this afternoon to create a “Choose Life” Texas license plate. An identical bill has already passed the Senate. Revenue generated from the license plate will go to support organizations that provide counseling for mothers considering adoption.

Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman), the author of the House version of the bill, says that the license plate’s message isn’t political.

“We’re not limiting anybody’s viewpoint. This choose life license plate is going to go benefit adoptions,” Rep. Phillips told his colleagues on the House floor today.

Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston), says that the bill discriminates against those who have anti-choice viewpoints, citing a 2004 circuit court case in which a similar license plate was deemed inappropriate.

"I'm not worried about Planned Parenthood if they want to file a lawsuit," Phillips said.

Several amendments were brought up, including one by Rep. Farrar to broaden the range of organizations that would benefit from the license plate.

“I’d like to keep the bill clean as it is,” Phillips said.