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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
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
(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
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.
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