My New Planned Parenthood License Plate

If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever buy a vanity license plate, I would have given you an emphatic “no”. A license plate is utilitarian; its purposes are to identify your car for law enforcement and prove you paid your car taxes, but not much else. Political statements belong on bumper stickers or license plate holders. My license plate holders support Husker Women’s Basketball and Husker Baseball.

However, that changed forever in Nebraska when the Nebraska Legislature approved a “Choose Life” license plate and politicized license plates in Nebraska. During the debate on these plates, many senators argued that the plate was not political. However, that lie was exposed when Governor Ricketts signed the bill into law authorizing the new plates, calling it the first pro-life legislation signed into law in Nebraska since 2011.

Pro-life legislators conceded that the bill was necessary because they were not able to get 250 supporters to pay $70 each for a pro-life license plate.

However, those of us supporting Planned Parenthood believe that there are more than 250 people willing to pay $70 for a license plate supporting women’s right to choose. I have purchased my plate, and I encourage others to buy a plate and/or contribute $70 for an individual who would like this new plate but cannot afford it. You can purchase your plate or donate funds for others to have a plate here.

I believe in the resistance, and I believe it will be a long, hard four years ahead of us. We can take some joy in the Nebraska Unicameral standing up to the governor and reinstating funding for Title X clinics in Nebraska and in the election of two Democrats to the Lincoln City Council, including Bennie Shobe, a candidate endorsed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. But I can assure you that every day I drive my car with my “My Body, My Choice” Planned Parenthood license plate, it will put a smile on my face. Please join me.