Spitzer's Other DMV 'License' Issue
By Press Release: Dr. Elizabeth B. Rex (11/16/07)
MEDIA ADVISORY, Nov. 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- Governor Spitzer has decided
to drop his illegal immigrant driver license program
due to public pressure and potential lawsuits. Now it's
time for the governor to drop his opposition to
another "license" problem at the DMV: the approval of
the New York "Choose Life" license plate that has
been blocked by the DMV - at taxpayers' expense -- for
three long years.
The "Choose Life" license plate was first requested by
The Children First Foundation (CFF) back in
December, 2001, to help raise awareness and
funding for the Adoption Option as a positive choice for
unplanned pregnancies. The pro-adoption plate
carries a childlike drawing of two smiling children and
the words "Choose life" as if written by a
child. "Choose Life" plates have been approved in 17
other states, including Connecticut, and have been
purchased by more than 60,000 motorists.
Nationwide, the plate has raised over $8 million to
help desperate women choose life and consider
adoption for an unintended pregnancy.
Even though the DMV in New York has approved
hundreds of specialty plates for very diverse
organizations and causes including political labor
unions like the AFL-CIO and religious organizations
like the Knights of Columbus, under Governor Pataki
the DMV repeatedly rejected CFF's plate claiming that
the plate was "patently offensive." The problem
escalated in August, 2004, when the DMV issued an
indefinite moratorium on the approval of all new
specialty license plates in New York. For the past
three years, the DMV's unresolved moratorium has
effectively blocked the issuance of every other
specialty plate including the "9/11 Remembrance"
Plate, the "Cure Childhood Cancer" Plate, the "Survivor
of the Bravest" Plate (for the families of fallen
firefighters) as well as countless other worthy New
York specialty license plates.
It is unquestionably "patently offensive" that the DMV
under both Governor Pataki and under Governor
Spitzer would rather veto and block New York's "9/11
Remembrance" Plate rather than allow the issuance
of CFF's New York "Choose Life" Plate. It is time to
demand that Governor Spitzer immediately address
and resolve this remaining DMV "license" problem in
New York.
Albany politicians on both sides of the aisle should be
equally appalled at the enormous waste of taxpayers'
money that has already been spent trying to dismiss
CFF's legitimate federal lawsuit to protect its 1st and
14th Amendment civil liberties. As concerned New
York citizens, we should once again contact all of our
politicians and ask them to show their strong, bi-
partisan support not only for the courageous and
positive choice of Adoption in New York State, but also
for freedom of speech, due process and equal
treatment for all New Yorkers, even those with whom
they may disagree.
Governor Spitzer has just strongly
condemned "hyperpartisanship" in New York State
and the Nation. He must now demonstrate his
leadership with his actions, not just his words. It's
time for him to walk the walk.
Children First Foundation is dedicated to
promoting and supporting Adoption as a positive
choice for unwanted pregnancies and newborns.
http://www.thechildrenfirst.org/
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