Rep. Gary Ackerman Wants To Tread On Tea Party License Plates In Arizona

A new Arizona license plate would say "Don't Tread on Me," but that's exactly what New York Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman wants the federal government to do with a new bill.

The plate, proposed by state Sen. Don Shooter (R-Yuma) in homage to the Tea Party, would be paid for by fees from would-be tag holders. The plates cost $25, $17 of which would be allocated to "promote Tea Party governing principles."

The New York lawmaker doesn't mind the idea of a politically-charged plate, but thinks putting the proceeds towards an interest group like the Tea Party amounts to a misuse of public money.

“Using official government resources to help bankroll an explicit political agenda –- whether on the right or left -– is flat out wrong,” said Ackerman.

In an effort to block such actions, Ackerman plans to introduce a bill in Congress called the "License Plate Political Slush Fund Prevention Act."

“It seems that the GOP in Arizona is attempting to do nothing more than create a slush fund for its Tea Party friends," he said. "It’s a scheme that smacks of cronyism, and should not be allowed to become law.”

Other states have proposed Tea Party plate laws, including Nevada, South Carolina and Virginia, and Texas passed one. But the money collected in those states doesn't fuel the Tea Party.

“License plates shouldn’t be used as political payoffs,” Ackerman contended. “The Arizona GOP might think differently if the legislation were to create a MoveOn.org license plate," he said, referring to the liberal advocacy group.

The congresman's bill would put the brakes on such laws by docking states that pass them 15% of their federal highway money.

Shooter's office did not answer requests for comment.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) has not said if she will sign the measure, which has passed both houses of the state legislature.

Comments

[Lazyrenowriter]

05:15 PM on 04/26/2011

It appears if the New York Congressman is ready to fight the civil war, again. As much as liberals prefer to have their heads in the sand on this issue (as well as many others) the Federal government should not be dictating to either the States, or the People (with extremely limited exceptions). While I agree that the funds from the plates should not go to a political party, having the funds go to support a philosophy that slavery to government employees and bureaucrats is not in the best interst of the nation (or any of the States).

[baileywick]

06:56 PM on 06/07/2011

Slavery?

[thislittlepeggy]

01:25 AM on 04/26/2011

I for one find the tea whatevers offensive racist...so that is what you are saying to alot of people when you drive around with that.

[thislittlepeggy]

01:20 AM on 04/26/2011

We need a stronger central or federal government....states have always had too much power.

[differentidea]

05:16 PM on 04/26/2011

I totally disagree. I think that the federal government should have a lot less power as the constitution state.... all remaining rights stay with the states. That way you can move to the state you like and I can move to the state I like, and we'll both still be in the United States.

[thislittlepeggy]

06:41 PM on 04/26/2011

well ...that gives me something to think about..

[Jax Zvono]

12:23 PM on 04/23/2011

Epic Fail. Really, they think they could get away with that crap?

[ArcticColin]

03:55 PM on 04/21/2011

This defines government corruption. I will also point out the irony in a tax to support a group that refers to itself as "Taxed Enough Already" (which doesn't really make sense in any form of English except American rural slang).

[GeeuaReux2]

03:53 PM on 04/21/2011

Why would a state represent only 8% of US. Goofy.

[GeeuaReux2]

03:51 PM on 04/21/2011

Yeah, great idea. Have not lost enough tourist dollars, boycotters, need to lose some more.
Ah AZ, so glad I knew you when. Don't forget, there is always that 8th Generation population, a heafty amount in your neck of the woods.

[Eileenla]

06:20 AM on 04/21/2011

State governance should have no part in collecting revenues for political organizations. It's a clear conflict of interest. Simple as that. What if the IRS allowed people to pay an extra $5 to receive a tax form with a photo of the president onthe cover, and donated the extra money to the National Democratic Party? Same concept.

[rainkitty]

05:34 AM on 04/21/2011

Tea Party Propaganda Factory You Probably Don't Know About:
"Citizens United is a cornerstone member of a growing praetorian guard furthering the interests of the super-rich. This guard includes law firms, think tanks, policy groups, PR firms, astroturf organizations, co-opted civil-rights groups, talking-head bloviators and unquestioning reporters who further a well-orchestrated rightwing, corporatist propaganda agenda.
...Citizens United promotes what it -- and many among the conservative right and Tea Party movement -- consider “traditional values.” These values are grounded in what is known as an “originalist” interpretation of the Constitution; an imperialist- and militaristic-based expansionist foreign policy; a monopolist (as opposed to a competitive, Adam Smith) concept of “free enterprise”; a belief in a white, Judeo-Christian notion of morality; and reverence to a heterosexual, monogamous patriarchal concept of the family as the basic social unit of American society."
http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/150672/the_tea_party_propaganda_factory_you_probably_don%27t_know_about/

[Bluedrgn]

03:00 AM on 04/21/2011

Isn't that a title of a Metallica song? I like the phrase "Dont tread on me"... I wonder how many people would buy it not even knowing what they were suporting. How about a progressive one "Eat the Rich" :)

[hoobit]

12:41 AM on 04/21/2011

I'd like a license plate saying: "Workers Unite!", if no one minds.

Hey, the saying has historic roots in the workplace(s) of America and Surely the good folks of AZ wouldn't mind their department of revenue transferring $17 of the money I pay for that license to promote the political party with which that phrase is most closely associated... No?

Then again -- don't know as if I can grumble much; Georgia has specialty license plates, too. Organizations receive money *directly* from the sale of these state-sanctioned plates...

Among the 40 plates supporting such non-partisan efforts as Breast Cancer Awareness, Habitat Protection, Dog & Cat Sterilization, Share the Road – Bicycle Safety, Historic Preservation Efforts in GA, and the like, there's the "Choose Life" plate -- from each sale of which, $10 goes each year to Choose Life of Georgia, Inc.
````````````````
Cost and Fees Distribution:

Initial cost: $80 plus applicable ad valorem tax.

Cost to renew annually: $55.00 plus applicable ad valorem tax.

Of the Initial $80 fees collected for the issuance of these tags, the fees shall be distributed as follows:

$20 Annual License Reg. Fee

$1 to the County Tag Agent

$10 to Sponsoring Organization

$49 to State of Georgia General Treasury

Of the $55 Annual Renewal fees, the fees shall be distributed as follows:

$20 Annual License Reg. Fee

$10 to Sponsoring Organization

$25 to State of Georgia General Treasury

http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/platesamples.aspx

[zzeltar]

11:53 PM on 04/20/2011

Tea party governing principles on video- http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/38418_Video-_Tea_Party_Racism_In_Your_Face I defy you to NOT shake your head in disbelief after watching this.

[rainkitty]

05:38 AM on 04/21/2011

Ignorant fools. They have no idea who their really enemies are.

[baileywick]

07:04 PM on 06/07/2011

I loved the guy with a mouthful of marbles saying we spend too much on "education".
Somebody spent too much on his.

[KayDGee]

11:33 PM on 04/20/2011

Appropriation of the "Don't Tread on Me" motto reminds me of when Jim and Tammy Baker tried to have "Praise the Lord" copyrighted. Claiming something in the public domain as yours is for those groups with limited imaginations.
This would be a good time to go back to basics. License plates should have the state identification a neutral background and easily read numbers - period. No college affiliations, hunting activist, right to life, pet lovers, pr save the planet themes. It pegs the occupant of a vehicle to the distraction of others who might have oposing viewpoints. There is enough road rage that ripples through traffic without fueling it with government produced political placards.

[baileywick]

07:05 PM on 06/07/2011

I want to patent the letter "a".

[zelda777]

11:25 PM on 04/20/2011

In case you didn't already know, here is the true Tea Party agenda:

http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/corporate-infusion-what-the-tea-party-s-really-serving-america

[zzeltar]

11:58 PM on 04/20/2011

Teapuppets of the international con men! Thanks- fanned.

[differentidea]

05:22 PM on 04/26/2011

Fortunately the web site you direct us to is not sponsored by the Tea Parties, but by an Ultra Liberal organization that promotes socialism. You can't really believe that they don't distort the Tea Parties agenda?

[StanleyYelnats]

11:12 PM on 04/20/2011

Gary, it's the t party... you know, t parties are for little girls and their imaginary friends.

Constitution be burned t party. or the Constitution only protects tBaggers.

etc...etc...etc