S.C. Lt. Governor Bob Peeler Gets Choose Life Tag across Finish Line

COLUMBIA, SC - - What do South Carolina's pro-life Lt. Governor Bob Peeler and the National Association of Stock Car Racing have in common? They both were vital to getting the Choose Life License Plate Bill across the finish line on the final day of the 2001 General Assembly.

Last year Lt. Governor Peeler promoted the Choose Life plate bill as a showcase piece of pro-life legislation. He said the legislation "sends a positive message that South Carolina is a place where life is valuedand reflected in our government." The legislation is similar to that proposed in about 30 other states, with proceeds from the sale of the plates going to benefit the state's crisis pregnancy centers.

As expected, pro-abortion lawmakers mounted an intensive campaign to keep the Choose Life License Plate Bill from becoming law. In the waning days of the nail-biting legislative drama, it looked like the Choose Life tag legislation would crash and burn. "By the last day of the session, our bill had been on the contested calendar of the State Senate for weeks and stalled in committee in the House," said Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life and the organization's lobbyist. "Of the half dozen license plate bills up for consideration, the Choose Life license plate was the only specialty vehicle tag lawmakers opposed."

There was, however, a highly favored license tag in the race -- the National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) plate. On the fast track to becoming law, legislators eagerly anticipated unveiling it at the popular, nationally televised Labor Day Southern 500 race in Darlington, South Carolina. It was vital to all the legislators, including the pro-aborts, for the NASCAR tag to become law."

To say that South Carolinians are enthusiastic NASCAR fans is putting it mildly," said pro-lifer Wayne Cockfield, a self-described NASCAR "fanatic" who lives in Florence, about 10 miles from the Darlington Raceway."

One thing no South Carolina politician wants is 100,000 NASCAR fans at the Southern 500 mad at them," said Cockfield, a member of both the National Right to Life and South Carolina Citizens for Life boards of directors. " Lt. Governor Peeler used South Carolina's love affair with stock car racing to send the Choose Life License Plate Bill across the finish line in the General Assembly."

On the last day of the session, Sen. Mike Fair and other skillful pro-life members of the Senate and the House of Representatives drafted an "omnibus" bill that combined six specialty license plate bills, including tags for Choose Life, NASCAR, the Wild Turkey Federation, the Sertoma Club, World War II Veterans, and Ducks Unlimited. To get the NASCAR tag lawmakers had to approve all the license tags. The omnibus bill passed the House and the Senate in the last minutes of the last day of the session and went to the desk of pro-abortion Governor Jim Hodges.

Under extreme pressure to veto the bill from his friends at Planned Parenthood of South Carolina, Governor Hodges obviously was more concerned with pleasing 100,000 race fans. He signed the Choose Life tag, the NASCAR tag, and all the rest into law in conjunction with the Southern 500 festivities on Labor Day weekend.Lt. Governor Peeler, who is running for governor in the Republican primary, graciously complimented Hodges. "I was worried that the governor might be playing politics with this issue, but I'm pleased that motorists will now have the opportunity to purchase 'Choose Life' license plates," Peeler said. "My hope is that the Governor will stand with Attorney General [Charlie] Condon and me to support these 'Choose Life' tags against any liberal lawsuit that may be filed."

True to form, Planned Parenthood immediately filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the Choose Life license tag legislation. South Carolina's pro-life Attorney General Condon, also a gubernatorial candidate in the Republican primary, has pledged to defend the right of South Carolina motorists to choose Choose Life license tags.

Condon, who won the nation's first abortion clinic regulation test case in the U.S. Supreme Court, expects to prevail with the Choose Life license plate lawsuit.

As for the court challenge, Peeler said, "Apparently the idea of a 'Choose Life' license plate is too much choice for Planned Parenthood."

Proceeds from the sale of these license plates will directly benefit families who use crisis pregnancy centers all over South Carolina. Planned Parenthood's lawsuit may temporarily delay the funding, but it will permanently strengthen our resolve."