ajc.com > Metro

UPDATED: 9:15 p.m. February 21, 2008
House votes to stop out-of-state college plates

By BEN SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/08

Georgia House members dumped two things off their plates Thursday: Gators and Tigers.

In a 142 to 10 vote, the chamber voted to stop making out-of-state university mascot tags if neighboring states don't return the favor.

RELATED LINKS:
• More about this year's Legislature

"Whatever is good for the goose is good for the gander," said state Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem), speaking with great earnestness on the matter.

Fleming was really talking about Bulldogs. He and the vast majority of his House colleagues think the citizens of the Bulldog nation living in South Carolina, Alabama and Florida, should get mascot tags of their own in those states.

After all, the state of Georgia offers Clemson and Auburn Tiger tags along with those for Florida alumni living in the Peach State.

The Gators fans' response to the House vote was essentially: Grow up.

"Now this is really a joke, isn't it?" said Martha Smith of Norcross. "I've never heard of anything so infantile in my entire life."

Smith, a Georgia Gator tag purchaser said she worked in the University of Florida's athletics department in the 1970s and has a son who attended the institution.

Under the bill, Smith won't have to give up her tag until it needs to be replaced. For Gator alumnus Greg Grillo of Alpharetta, that could be as early as August.

Grillo said he wouldn't be surprised if the Florida Legislature asked for some reciprocity from Georgia on another issue.

Said Grillo, "I heard the Florida Legislature told Georgia to pound salt unless they would allow for Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia."

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Comments

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By AU fan

Mar 12, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Just a question...who exactly do the "representatives" in the house represent? Those of us that live in GA that went to school out of state, or those that may or may not have gone to school in GA, but chose to live outside of GA AND don't pay their salaries? What about the money that will be lost by the state over this, and the additional cost of having to redistribute NEW tags to those of us with out of state school tags?

By GA Mike

Mar 4, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

I do not really agree with what the House is doing to reciprocate this issue with other states. Florida, Clemson, and Auburn all have the right to have their specialty tags in Georgia b/c they have shown in numbers they will pay for the new plates. UGA alumni, like myself, need to show interest in the states they reside to gain the same access our rivals have. We may not have the numbers in other states or do not really care about paying the extra money to get specialty plates, but one thing for sure is now that we've stirred the pot on this issue Bulldog alumni in other states will now begin to show their interest to gain specialty tags in the states where they live. No need to get the government involved. Let's just get the water we need so we can all live in peace.

By UGA Vegas Mike

Mar 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

I do not really agree with what the House is doing to reciprocate this issue with other states. Florida, Clemson, and Auburn all have the right to have their specialty tags in Georgia b/c they have shown in numbers they will pay for the new plates. UGA alumni, like myself, need to show interest in the states they reside to gain the same access our rivals have. We may not have the numbers in other states or do not really care about paying the extra money to get specialty plates, but one thing for sure is now that we've stirred the pot on this issue Bulldog alumni in other states will now begin to show their interest to gain specialty tags in the states where they live. No need to get the government involved. Let's just get the water we need so we can all live in peace.

By Walt Pendleton

Feb 27, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Children, Children, Children - Doctors for years have been trying to get the general public to listen to their theory that, " excessive alcohol consuption as a minor causes the brain to stop maturing!" Looks like the lawmakers (party animals of UGA) are proving the MD's theory has true merit! Another "boner" for the state. Go Dogs

By dumb leghumper

Feb 27, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

GO DAWGS!! WOOF WOOF!! DANG RIGHT KICK ALL THE JEAN SHORTS BACK TO FLORIDA! I GO DOWN TO PC EVERY YEAR AND GET DRUNK AND BEAT MY WIFE! GIVE US PC AND THEY CAN HAVE THEM TAGS! WELL I GOTS TO GO BACK TO SPENDING MY WELFARE CHECK AND SITTING ON MY ARSE NOW.

By Dave

Feb 26, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

Even my representatives in what I thought was an intelligent part of the state, North Fulton, co-sponsored this idiotic trash. Chuck Martin and his friend Mark Burkhalter both got in on this pandering garbage, helping a buddy out who originated the bill. One of my friends works with one of those guys and that's what this is folks, just blatant pandering for their colleague running for Congress. Yes, folks, you're being used. Chuck and Mark: do you know how many well-off Georgians there are in your district who happened to go to out of state colleges? Tread lightly, dimwits.

By gatorGuy

Feb 25, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

The university of Florida does not get a cent of the money raised by this plate. The money stays in GEORGIA!

By Tommie Crook

Feb 25, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

First I have a question about the tags. Is there a extra price for the tag and if so does the school get the extra money? I am orignally from Georgia but now leave in Montana and here they only carry the school from this state and it does cost extra for the tags and the school get the extra money and also for 4H or other origanizations. I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA NOT TO SALE A GATOR TAGS.

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