SALEM, Ore. — Square dancers, Beavers' fans and ham-radio operators can cruise around with special-issue license plates to declare their affiliations in Oregon.

Now an Oregon group thinks abortion foes should be able to get "Choose Life" plates from the state.

The plates would be more expensive than regular Oregon plates, and the extra money would go toward nonprofit groups that provide pregnancy and adoption support — but not abortion — for expectant mothers.

Supporters of the bill, which had its first hearing yesterday in the state House Transportation Committee, say it's a way to fund the groups without additional state money, but opponents call it a violation of free speech and the state constitution.

"One of the things we're struggling with, of course, is providing funding for adoption down in the counties," said Rep. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, one of the bill's sponsors.

Boquist said Rep. Mac Sumner, R-Molalla, came up with the idea as a way to help fund county commissions on family and children, which help with adoptions, among other things.

The bill is modeled after a 1999 Florida law that sparked "Choose Life" groups in many other states.

Boquist said he thought Sumner had a "novel idea" at first, but then thought it would be a good way to provide funding for adoption on a voluntary basis. Abortion-rights groups disagreed.

"If this were truly about the promotion of adoption, a license plate proclaiming, 'Support Adoption' ... would fulfill the intent," said Maura Roche, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.

Roche said it's unconstitutional for the state to disqualify certain groups from receiving state funds because they engage in legal activities like abortion.

"This legislation penalizes organizations like Planned Parenthood, while masking an anti-choice agenda as the promotion of adoption," Roche said.

Roche said "Choose Life" plates in other states have brought costly litigation.

Boquist said the Legislature shouldn't act based on threats of litigation. He rejected the argument that the plates violate First Amendment rights any more than plates the state offers now.

The plates would be paid for by the Choose Life organization and not the state.