Choose Life Update from IL-CL President

August 2008 Update

(August 6, 2008) How do paratroopers, sheet metal workers, the rotary club, and nine other approved specialty license plates, differ from the Choose Life adoption aid specialty plate? Simple, the first 12 plates were all approved for display on vehicles during 2007, benefiting the cause they support, while adoption aid was directed to "the back of the bus."

All approved plates were placed properly into the Transportation Committee, while the Choose Life specialty plate was given to the Health and Human Services Committee, a committee known for its "kiss of death" policy on any social issue that is not beholden to the leftist community. Read, ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Interesting that the head of this committee was Barock Obama, now running for President.

On the campaign trail Obama has been saying "that he favors adoption as a means to reduce abortion." How strange then, to learn that in March of 2004, Obama denied both a hearing on our bill, and a simple up or down vote by the legislators. He assigned the bill to a sub-committee, burying our effort. Obama also stated "that he was not in favor of a plate benefiting adoption," while trying to make adoption aid somehow into an argument about abortion. One can only wonder what he would have done if he was not in favor of adoption.

As a result, Illinois remains among the minority on this worthwhile effort. Nineteen states have approved legislative efforts for the Choose Life plate, while another sixteen (including Illinois) are working for same. After playing by the rules and being denied our First Amendment rights toward free speech, we sued, declaring viewpoint discrimination on the part of the state. We received a favorable ruling from Federal Judge David H. Coar on January 22, 2007, ordering the state to begin producing our Choose Life plate. Since this ruling, the state has appealed Judge Coar's decision to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming this was all about abortion, not adoption, and that somehow the plate now represented state speech, not private speech. This, while those who choose to display the license, pay a premium to express their support for adoption. We expect a favorable ruling within the next few months.

Meanwhile, the sheet metal workers, the Rotary Club, and the paratroopers are thriving while we patiently wait for our seat towards the front of the bus to open up. When it does, Illinois will be a better place for it. Too bad that Senator Obama can't get this one right. Even worse, he misleads the electorate on the issue to gain the conservative vote.

James Patrick Finnegan
President Choose Life Illinois

January 2008 Update

(January 31, 2008) It has been a long 6 year struggle to get the Choose Life plate offered within the specialty plate program here in Illinois. In simple words, it is very encouraging. A victory at the Federal Court level on January 22, 2007 ordered the state of Illinois to begin producing the Choose Life plate. Federal Judge David Coar stated that Illinois' refusal to offer the plate was discriminatory, and that our effort was indeed one to benefit adoption, and not a pro-life / pro-choice controversy as the state has tried to portray it.

Sadly, but not unexpected, the already cash-strapped state then made the decision to appeal the judgement of Judge Coar. This appeal to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals was heard in December of 2007. Recent victories in Missouri and Arizona, at this same Federal Appeals Court level, offer strong hope and legal precedence in our expectation for a favorable ruling on our case.

If you have expressed your interest in purchasing a Choose Life specialty license plate, be assured you will be contacted immediately once the state of Illinois acts on a court directive to begin producing the Choose Life specialty plate. We honestly feel, within the first five years, it will be the #1 selling specialty plate in Illinois (exceeding the environment - red bird plate), and also the #1 selling Choose Life specialty plate within USA (exceeding Florida's 40,000+).

Keep the faith, and may God bless you

Jim Finnegan
President, Illinois Choose Life

January 2007 Update

(January 24, 2007) January 22nd was a special day in the hearts and minds of many. Couples who have had the heartbreak of not being able to complete their families through the beauty of adoption now have greater hope. Women and men who have given their time at adoption agencies, crisis pregnancy centers, homes for unwed mothers, and organizations specializing in placing special needs and foster children, could now get a helping hand.

Federal Judge David Coar got it right in his ruling when he stated that he assumed "that a request for a Choose Life specialty license plate was prompted by a sincere interest in promoting adoption, that the message was protected speech." No matter how others who choose to see this as a threat to the abortion business, or as an income loss to the abortionist, who missed one more "customer," it is all about adoption. The vast majority of Americans view adoption as a positive choice for mothers in a "crisis" pregnancy. Those who would not agree, certainly do not include the adoptive parents and the child being adopted.

Eighteen states across America have this beautiful program. There are another 17 states working towards the same goal. Here in Illinois our Illinois Choose Life Board made the trip to Springfield four times playing by the rules in applying for our specialty plate. We were denied a hearing from both houses of the legislature. They kept if from even getting out of the assigned committee. In the case of the Senate, Barack Obama stopped it dead. In the case of the House, it was Representative Jack Franks. Senate President Emil Jones and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan made sure the bills did not see the light of day. So much for the statements from David Druker, spokesperson for the Secretary of State , "why didn't they apply for the plates under the rules as everyone else does." Blatant and open discrimination against our First Amendment rights occurred first. Then, and only then, did we decide to play accordingly to the rules of fairness. It is called the Constitution, the supreme laws of our land.

Judge Coar got it right. It never was about abortion, only a sincere effort to offer yet another choice, at a time of a difficult pregnancy. Don't let others try to frame this argument any differently. Certainly we welcome those who do not agree, to consider offering their own plate proclaiming they are pro choice. After all, they are claiming it is all about abortion. Isn't that truly the American way?

James Finnegan
President, Illinois Choose Life
460 East Lake Shore Drive
Barrington, Illinois 60010
847-526-1152 (Temporarily can be reached at 239-597-5951 or 239-597-2708)

February 2005 Update

(February 5, 2005) There is an old saying "any publicity, even bad, is better than no publicity." After reading the Courier's editorial column of 1-28-05 while at our winter home in Naples, Florida, I would have to disagree. It was while in Florida that I first saw the ADOPTION AID specialty license plates. Over 41,000 of them are now on the roads of the Sunshine State in little more than four years, with $3,600,000 raised for the noble cause of helping adoption efforts in Florida.

Let me respond to the January 28th column. This effort is ALL about adoption, not the pro-life versus pro-choice argument that the usual suspects, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, NOW and NARAL have tried to make it. I might add, with the eager cooperation of many of the media such as the Courier News. If you take the time to read HB 5883 and SB 3089, you see there is no mention or intent to end abortion in either bill. The only mention of abortion at all, is the common sense point that adoption aid cannot also include aid to organizations who do abortions as one cannot adopt a dead child. Thus, the money freely spent to boost adoption as yet another choice at the time of a crisis pregnancy, can not be given to organizations such as Planned Parenthood (PP) which does over 100 abortions for each adoption referral. Your column in the very third sentence labels our effort as coming from "abortion foes." In the two years we have been in existance, we have obtained close to 40,000 signatures from citizens asking for the Choose Life plate to be offered. More than a few consider themselves pro-choice, but feel there has to be more than one choice, and consider this a good step that both sides can agree on.

The choice to purchase this plate is an exercise of ones constitutional rights under the first amendment of free speech, and the fourteenth amendment of equal protection under the law. The state of Illinois created the specialty license plate program as a mobile free speech program for interested parties to fund what they consider to be worthwhile causes. NO WHERE in either of our bills do we say that organizations advocating abortion or pro-choice, such as PP, should not be allowed their plate. This is America, and they should be allowed the same opportunity. You have made it sound as if in Illinois we are refusing to allow the pro-abortion people their own specialty plate. In Florida, the federal judge's decision included his remarks that stated "you cannot deny others their own plate, while still not applying for one of your own." "Free speech does not include this."

Choose Life was the name chosen in offering the plate. Two all-American words, for sure. This is what "sells" the plate. Opponents of capital punishment, embryonic stem cell research, violence, and yes abortion, all respond to the plate's message, while the many trying to make adoption a more viable choice also support it. Your editorial does not point out that after the first year, $23 of the $25 cost for the plate goes to worthy organizations such as, homes for unwed mothers, adoption agencies, crisis pregnancy centers, and those who specialize in helping place special needs and foster children.

Almost every one of the over 60 specialty plates now available for purchase in Illinois, have what you have labeled a "social agenda." The K of C and the Masons, the environmental and the unions, the "dove" plate against violence, and the many worthwhile military plates, and of course, the differing university plates. All have a worthwhile message, but I would hold none greater than making a newborn available for a family that has spent many years trying to adopt.

On January 30th 2006, Choose Life Illinois will be agressively defending our constitutional rights to free speech in U.S. District court. Judge David Coar set this date while denying a motion by Attorney General Lisa Madigan to dismiss our lawsuit. We will not be forced to the back of the bus on this most important principal of free speech guranteed to us by our Constitution. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. As commentator Paul Harvey says, "now you know the rest of the story."

Jim Finnegan
President, Illinois Choose Life,
ADOPTION AID license plates

Winter (now) 7150 Mill Run Circle
                   Naples, Florida 34109
                   239-5597-5951

Summer       460 East Lake Shore Drive
                   Barrington, Ill 60010
                   847-526-1152