Last week, the Texas Senate approved a new speciality license plate with the words "Choose Life" on it. This week the Texas House took up the measure. But an amendment was offered in the House by Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth).Believing the "Choose Life" plates to be "constitutionally flawed" Burnam said, "If we’re going to start politicizing our license plates, it’s only appropriate that we provide equal access and due process to everyone. All we’re trying to do is give equal opportunity to another perspective."
Burnam's amendment would have added another specialty plate. That plate would say "Pro-Family, Pro-Choice". By adding this plate, both sides of the divisive political and religious issue of abortion would be represented. Burnam (pictured) hoped that being fair to both sides of the issue would keep the matter out of the federal courts.
But as I said last week, the Texas Legislature has no interest in fairness, but only in pandering to the religious right. The House defeated Burnam's amendment on an 86 to 48 vote. Now the state is guaranteed to have to waste a lot of taxpayer money defending the new plate in court.
A little fairness would have avoided a court fight and given the right their precious "Choose Life" plate. But I guess fairness is just too much to ask of the Texas Legislature.
They would have, however, approved a license plate that said, "Choose Death," on it to represent their opponents views, no doubt.
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