Tea Party License Plates: New York Congressman Gary Ackerman 'Treads' All Over Jan Brewer; Calls Gov's Signing of License Plate Bill 'Shameful'

Tea Party License Plates: New York Congressman Gary Ackerman "Treads" All Over Jan Brewer; Calls Gov's Signing of License Plate Bill "Shameful"

By James King Fri., Apr. 29 2011 at 4:59 PM

Categories: News

Congressman Gary Ackerman is treading all over Governor Jan Brewer.

New York Congressman Gary Ackerman calls Governor Jan Brewer's putting her Jan Hancock on a bill that allows the creation of license plates that benefit the Tea Party movement "shameful." Now, he's called on U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to schedule a vote on a bill he's devised that cuts federal highway funding for states that direct license-plate money to partisan political organizations.

As for shame, Tea Party license plates are nothin' compared to some of the other crap that's found its way through the Arizona Legislature this session -- much of which Brewer had the sense to veto, including the humiliating "Birther Bill."

"Using government-administrated funds to help enrich political organizations that support a particular ideology reeks of cronyism," Ackerman says. "The ball is now in Speaker Boehner's court. If the Speaker doesn't think license plates should be a slush fund for those who support his party, then he should schedule my bill for a vote next week."

As it stands, anyone who wants a Gadsden Flag (Tea Party) plate would have to pony up $25, $17 of which goes to "promote Tea Party governing principles" because the Tea Party is the organization that will have to raise the $32,000 required to create the plates.

The new official license plate of the Tea Party movement.

Under Ackerman's bill, the "License Plate Political Slush Fund Prevention Act," the Tea Party plates would cause Arizona -- and any other state that issues similar plates -- to lose 15 percent of its federal highway funds if any proceeds from a vanity plate go to a political group that advocates the defeat of a political candidate.

In other words, Arizona could potentially lose a boat-load of cash over something as dumb as a symbolic license plate. Sadly, Arizona politicos aren't forced to take a class called Picking Your Battles 101 before assuming office.

The Governor's Office did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

Tags:

arizona, don't tread on me, gadsden flag, gary ackerman, jan brewer, john boehner, License Plate Political Slush Fund Prevention Act, tea party license plate

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J Curwen

I certainly hope Willie Nelson's Teapot Party gets similar treatment.https://www.facebook.com/Teapo...

Twinkie

Unfortunately, the voters of Arizona were the most ill-informed and short sighted of any group of voters in the last election that I've witnessed in my 60 years. If a politico was for 1070, they were elected. If they were not a Democrat, they were elected. There needed to be no other platforms, discussions, agendas.And this is what we get - and this should be no surprise. Next time, folks, THINK about who should be running our state and make them give you a darn good reason to vote for them other than their illegal immigration stand and political party.

Docbob498th

If the regressives were capable of actual thought, we wouldn't live in Hooterville.

Former Republican

Arizona Prison State here we come! Lost amid the nonsensical bills that garnered the media's attention. Wake up media and the people of Arizona. To the Chamber of Commerce, you better use full disclosure in all your brochures to warn newcomers what drives Arizona besides bigotry and racism. Prisons are the winner! Arizona's "business model" for 2011 and the future.

Former Republican

... ALL are at risk in Arizona for decades in prison - nonviolent, first offense. Visitors and tourists should be forewarned.

Three Felonies a Day - How The Feds Target The Innocent > Homehttp://www.threefeloniesaday.c...

Anon

Great reporting.

US War Veteran

Oh my God can this get any worse? is the mayority of Arizona voters really that stupid to vote these clowns into office? I guess they are, whatever percentage of votes Jan "Drunk Puppet" Brewer, Sen. Pres. rASSell "Fiesta Bowl Receipts" peARSE, and Sheriff Joke "ill Duce" ArPayaso got in the last election reflects the percentage of moronic IMBECILES in the state, what's next, is she going to outlaw a full set of teeth and shirts with sleeves on them? maybe make the sleeveless flannel shirt mandatory uniform of every law enforcement agency in the state to complete the picture. In any other country this is TREASON! only in America! Un-fucking-believable!

Walter Concrete

I thought I smelled you over here. That's a nice convoluted statement you made. No one said anything was mandatory or was going to outlaw anything. You're the one who wants to outlaw things like a license plate. You might want to look up the definition of treason unless you think it means the support of freedom of speech and the right to make choice is treasonous. You make no fucking sense. Wipe the spittle off your monitor and have another 12 pack. I think you're watching too much of the Lifetime channel and all those feminine and emotional news talk shows from the Fox network.

US War Veteran

Moron, do you even know what the "dont tread on me" flags stand for? they stand for anti-government as it stands, anybody waving those flags are actually saying to the government that they are ready to rebolt. I am not anti-license plate, and I swore to defend the US Constitution so I am not anti freedom of speech either, I am anti TREASON, anybody yells that they are going to revolt agains our nation is a traitor. Get off that crack pipe maybe then you'll get your facts straight. fucking imbecile.

Mistalee

You are the one serving up red herring, Walter Krankheit.

You have absolutely missed the point, which is not "free speech," but rather government endorsement of one political party over another, in this case, by official issuance of a license plate that not only promotes one political faction over another but actually raises funds for that faction as well.