No one wants credit for anti-abortion plate

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 | 9:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers said Monday they didn't know exactly who was behind a state Senate bill that calls for the creation of anti-abortion license plates.

Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas, introduced SB120 Thursday but said he did so at the request of Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks. But Washington said he had been asked to introduce the bill by Clark County Commissioner Mark James, a former member of the state Senate.

Washington said somebody named "Bill" had asked James to support the legislation. Washington said he could not remember Bill's last name, and James could not be reached for comment.

Shaffer emphasized that it is not his bill. "I am not involved in that fight," he said.

The bill calls for the state Department of Motor Vehicles work with Choose Life, Inc., to design and issue license plates supporting alternatives to abortion. Choose Life, Inc., is a Florida-based nonprofit group that spent several years working to get Florida to approve an anti-abortion license plate.

The group is making similar efforts in most other states nationwide and its website lists Las Vegan Jim Blockey of the 6300 block of Agua Drive as the coordinator of the Nevada effort. Blockey could not be reached for comment.

The Nevada bill requires that the license plate include the phrase "Choose Life."

Revenue from the purchase of the plates would go to counties to make grants to nonprofit groups that counsel women with unplanned pregnancies who want to place their children up for adoption. None of the money would go to any organization that counsels women about the option of abortion, according to the bill.

The bill was referred to Shaffer's Transportation Committee for study.