Fred Clark Backs Taxpayer‑Funded Pro‑Planned Parenthood License Plates in Wisconsin

Fred Clark, a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, once sponsored a bill that would let drivers get special license plates promoting Planned Parenthood. The proposal, introduced in 2012 while he served in the state Assembly, called for an initial state grant of $23,700 to cover the first batch of plates. Drivers who wanted the plates would pay a $15 fee when they were issued or renewed, plus a $25 yearly charge.

After the upfront costs were covered, the extra $25 each year would flow into the state’s general fund and then be earmarked for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. The money could only be used for cervical and breast cancer screenings and family‑planning services, such as birth control. The organization would have to send an audited financial report to the legislature each year it received funds. Payments would stop if the group dissolved, became insolvent, filed for bankruptcy, or lost its tax‑exempt status. The Department of Transportation also needed permission to use any logo or trademark linked to the plates, and that approval had to be given free of charge.

Clark’s past support for the plate idea has become a campaign talking point as he faces Republican Michael Alfonso in the November election. He narrowly won the Democratic primary with 37.6% of the vote, while Alfonso captured the Republican nod with 48.9%. The district leans heavily Republican, and the incumbent, Tom Tiffany, is not seeking re‑election. On his website Clark says he wants to expand access to the abortion pill and insists that any state receiving federal money must guarantee abortion services, though he does not detail which funds he means.

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