Anti-abortion activists in almost 30 states, including Iowa, have been pushing legislation for several years to put their message on license plates.

Currently, the Iowa Right to Life Committee has public approval to create “Choose Life” specialty license plates. They’re now waiting for state sponsorship.

Kim Gordon, executive director for the Iowa Right to Life Committee, said her organization has tried unsuccessfully during the past two years to push legislation through the Legislature, but the bill has been killed while in committee.

She said the committee has begun taking an administrative approach.

“You have to get at least 500 signatures [of people who will purchase the new license plates] and have a state organization sponsor you,” Gordon said.

The organization has received the necessary 500 signatures, but is waiting on state sponsorship, she said. The Iowa Right to Life Committee has asked the Iowa Department of Public Health to be its sponsor.

Kevin Teale, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Health, confirmed that the agency has been approached by the committee, but it has yet to respond to the request.

“We want to know more about the proposal and where the money raised will be spent,” he said.

Judy Rutledge, vice president of governmental affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, said Planned Parenthood does not believe the pro-life license plates are appropriate.

“License plates are not the appropriate forum for such a divisive and hostile issue,” she said. “The Iowa Legislature has realized this.” She said, however, if an anti-abortion plate was created, she would support an abortion rights plate.

Gordon said the money raised from the license plates, which would cost about $35, would go to fund adoption agencies and pregnancy centers.

“The money will stay in the county where the license plate is purchased,” she said.

Teale said state agency has not set a time frame and would look at precedents before making a decision.

“We need to see whether we’ve sponsored an organization like this before,” he said.

In other states, anti-abortion organizations have been able to get legislation passed. In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed a bill creating the anti-abortion license plates, which Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law.

Following nearly a year of legal battles, the license plates were made available to the Florida public in 2000. Since then, the plates have become one of the fastest-selling specialty license plates in the state and more than $1 million worth have been sold, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, a national health policy watchdog organization.

Gordon said the Iowa Right to Life Committee will continue pursuing the “Choose Life” license plates until they are made available to the public.