By Gina Holt
Enquirer contributor

A bill proposed by a Northern Kentucky state senator could make anti-abortion bumper stickers obsolete.

If the bill passes, drivers could signal their stands on abortion with an official Kentucky specialty license plate.

Senator Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, has proposed a bill that would create a vehicular license plate that says "Choose Life." It would be similar to 75 specialty plates already sold with themes ranging from University of Kentucky alumni to amateur radio enthusiast to Pearl Harbor veteran.

The "Choose Life" plate, modeled after one in Florida, could be purchased for $53 and renewed annually for $25. The cost would make it nearly the most expensive license plates in the state. Only "Historic Motorcycle" or "Historic Vehicle" plates cost more, at $53.50.

"Sixty percent of the money would help pay the needs of women who are considering putting their child up for adoption," said Mr. Westwood, adding it would go toward prenatal care expenses. "That will be distributed through the Foster and Adoptive Parent Association of Kentucky. The remaining 40 percent would go toward education, letting people know about the adoption efforts and what else is possible."

He said both Florida and Louisiana have approved the license plate, but both states faced a lot of opposition before passing the measures.

"It's similar to what's going on in Florida," said Mr. Westwood. "I think they've sold about 35,000 in two years. Louisiana passed it a while ago, but just won the court challenge and they just started selling them. I think three or four other states have passed them.

"The plate in Florida says, `Choose Life' and has a picture of a little boy and a little girl. We're going to use the same one as the Florida people."

Mr. Westwood proposed the same bill last year late in the session, but it failed because the Transportation Committee refused to hear it, saying it was too late in the session to deal with such a controversial issue.

The senate passed it, though. However, Sen. Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville, wanted to make an amendment to the proposed bill. He wanted the license plate to say "Choose Life, Choose Choice" so that it would support both sides. Mr. Westwood fought that, saying "Choose Choice" didn't make sense.

State Rep. Tom Kerr, D-Taylor Mill, doesn't plan to oppose it and doesn't think any Northern Kentucky legislator will.

"I shouldn't be a party issue," he said. "I would say that the Democrats in Northern Kentucky will definitely support it. Northern Kentucky legislators are representatives of their constituents and most of our constituents are pro-life.

"There will be some Democrats in the state who won't support it. There will be some Republicans in the state that won't. I don't think there is any real reason to oppose it; but no matter how good of an idea you come up with, there's always someone who is going to be against it.

"It's not making a statement against abortion as such, but it's promoting life," Mr. Kerr said. "Promoting life is something that the U.S. Supreme Court has said states have the right to do. It's a positive statement without the argument issue in it."

He said he expects most of the legislators from Western and Central Kentucky to support the bill too and anticipates the opposition to be from legislators based in Lexington and Louisville.

"I'm very much opposed to it," said Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington.

She said Mr. Westwood and other legislators would claim the bill is not an anti-abortion/abortion-rights advocates issue, but rather a way to raise money for adoption.

"That's exactly what it is, a pro-life/pro-choice issue," she said. "For heaven's sakes, we already have enough specialty license plates. I'm certainly opposed to one that says, `Choose Life.' I don't even want one that says, `Choose Choice.'

Mr. Westwood expects the bill to pass this time.

"I feel a lot better than I did before about it," he said. "I have a lot of people who are working on it with me this time."

Bob Cetrulo, leader of Northern Kentucky Right to Life, chose not to comment, saying he is not familiar with the bill.