SB 327 having to do with Indiana specialty license plates is dead, according to Nikki Kelly, writing for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. (Discussed here previously).
Like I said, I’m in favor of getting rid of specialty plates. The proliferation was bad 15 years ago when I was drafting license plate bills and is getting worse. But, this year the politics was troublesome. It looked more like an attack on the Indiana Youth Group plate because some lawmakers were apparently concerned the state would be perceived as insufficiently hostile to gays.
On the other hand, the pending amendment to SB 327 allowing for a Girl Scouts plate was kind of funny, in light of Bob Morris’ warnings that the group is a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood, promoting feminism, lesbianism, and Communism. (Reminds me of the old SNL bit about the gay communist gun club, “for people who are gay, communist, and love guns.”)
Representive and House Committe Chair Soliday says that the bill was pulled because the situation was becoming “too political”. How pulling the decision process from the BMV to the legislature itself would somehow make this less “political” is beyond me, and apparently several media outlets that have editorialized.
Indiana Youth Group was not the only organization that over time had seen its application denied for apparently non-existant or arbitrary criteria. This prompted its lawsuit which resulted in a settlement in which its most recent application was approved. There are strong indications, including the messaging calling IYG unworthy to be among the other successful groups by Advance America, that when these decisions are made though the legislative process, groups with unpopular messages will come up short. And then there’s that pesky First Amendment concerning the government picking and choosing among messages.
Put the process back in the hands of legislators with political motivations and influences? Be careful of what you wish for, ladies and gentlement in the General Assembly.
Gosh, I have never had a specialty plate — I guess I haven’t wanted to spend the extra dollars. However, if a Girl Scout plate becomes available, that is the one I would spring for.