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DEL.ICIO.USA few questions about the Gator tag bill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We may have just found a University of Florida grad to speak against H.B. 1165 at the hearing we know Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson will want to put together.
Kurt Raulin is an Atlanta attorney who just happens to be a graduate of the University of Florida — a Republican who on occasion has donated to a campaign here and there.
On Thursday, he sent an e-mail to Carla Klepper, president-elect of the Atlanta Gator Club, offering advice on what to say about the measure sponsored by state Rep. Barry Fleming. His bill would ultimately do away with prestige auto tags for the alumni of out-of-state universities - unless neighboring states offer similar opportunities for grads of the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech.
The House passed H.B. 1165 on Thursday. Johnson, a Savannah Republican and the ranking member of the Senate, has already endorsed it.
In his e-mail, which he copied to us, Raulin posed the following questions:
Q: Have Sen. Johnson or Rep. Fleming contacted the legislative leadership in the adjoining states to address the “reciprocity” issue in a productive manner that is likely to produce results?
Q: Doesn’t changing the specialty rules after the fact seem unfair to those Georgia citizens who followed the existing application process and got approved?
Q: Do the adjoining states not have similar administrative and/or legislative processes for the approval of new specialty tags? Are those procedures any more or less fair than Georgia’s specialty tag application process?
Q: Shouldn’t members of the Georgia Assembly be more concerned with the rights of Georgia taxpayers and voters rather than fans of Georgia universities who live in adjoining states?
The Atlanta Gator Club just finished jumping through state-required hoops for its plates. Graduates of Auburn University already have theirs.
In a separate e-mail to us, Raulin added this:
“Members of the General Assembly are supposed to be adults and voices of mature reason; their job descriptions do not include launching rhetorical broadsides against their fellow Georgia citizens, residents, taxpayers and voters who happened to attend out-of-state universities, nor do their job descriptions include attempting to deny their fellow Georgia taxpayers and voters due process and the equal protection of the laws of Georgia.
“These may be members of my own political party, but it is apparent (to anyone who has considered the underlying legal issues) that these young gentlemen have not thoroughly considered where they are taking the State of Georgia and their fellow citizens in this matter. I can only express my sincere disappointment in them.”
Comments
By Concerned Citizen
February 22, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
I am not a fan of any of the schools mentioned in this tag issue but what is the latest on the “alledged” fraud of Rep. Beasley-Teague and mileage-gate. The public needs to know. She needs to take that hat off and tell us the truth. We can get back to Rep. Fleming kissing up to UGA voters at a later time. Please advise.
By The truth
February 22, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Is this really an issue? Last time I checked there were much more important issue at hand. Get a life !
By Mr. T
February 22, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
For the love of God, will someone please do something productive. Taken as a whole, our General Assembly’s actions this year (moving the Tenn/Ga state line, fighting over University car tags, Richardson’s attempted DOT putsch and fallout, non-existent water planning, etc.) are an embarassment. Why in the hell do we continue to elect these idiots? Help!
By Alf
February 22, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Mr. T, I completely agree. On my native planet, Melmac, we would hold politician accountable for their actions like Rep. Beasley-Teague(mileage) and the Lt. Governor (blocking the Sunday alcohol) and get rid of them. This is outrageous.
By Round HE, Fuse VT
February 22, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Our reservoirs are empty but our swimmming pools are full. Our schools are past failing but our teachers’ union is happy. Our public employees earn 80 percent of industry standard and there’s an all out assault on their benefits, but we can still attract the D students. Now our highways will be safe from rival school tags. The new crowd is doing a heck of a job running the state.
By Tom
February 22, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
I am a Republican, but am not a fan of this legislature — I have posted my thoughts about their bone-headed efforts before. I think BOTH the Speaker and Governor are real dummies. I think the whole college playoff support resolution was stupid and a waste of time. However, the tag bill is but one bill dropped during the session. An affinity tag in fact promotes schools from other states AND the logo appears on GEORGIA’s auto tags. Why would we permit that if the other state doesn’t have reciprocity? It is a legitimate inquiry and legislative effort.
By ColumbiaCountyGOP
February 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Is that Flemming kid still running for Congress? I say “kid” because his latest antic with these car tags is quite childish!
By Jason Rice
February 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
I sure am glad the GA legislature doesn’t have anything more important to worry about. I am also glad that our leadership is endowed with the type of logic that would have them penalize thousands of Georgia residents/taxpayers/voters who happen to be alumni of out of state universities in support of UGA fans that choose not to live in Georgia. But most of all, I am thrilled that I should be receiving a reduction in my property and vehicle taxes since, by passing laws to eliminate a six figure revenue generator, the legislature is telling me that they do not need my money.
By SayNo2Fleming
February 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
That does it! I had not made up my mind in the Broun vs. Fleming Congressional race but now I have. I can’t vote for the panderer Fleming.
By A Reader
February 22, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Raulin for President! I totally agree with his thoughts on this license tag garbage. That this issue is even being considered with any seriousness is just outrageous. And may I say, GO GATORS!
By whatever
February 22, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
This is the most ridiculous, infantile piece of dribble I have ever witnessed out of our state government! Do you IDIOTS not have anything better to do than talk about vanity plates. It is NO surprise that our schools rank at the bottom or near the bottom! I’m just guessing, but I will bet the the representative from Harlem went to Georgia public schools and UGA was the only school that would grant him admittance! PITIFUL!
By Clint Austin
February 22, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Since almost none of these comments are from people who use their names, I’m thinking a least a few of them are campaign or political operatives. No problem with that, just pointing it out.
I believe the vast majority of folks in GA think it is quite silly for our state to advertise other state’s institutions on our official tags, while other states do not return the favor.
If one piece of legislation in one year (out of the thousands that are introduced each year) fixes that problem, that’s a good bill.
Besides, it took a bill to create this problem in the first place. What’s one more to fix it.
By Atlanta Gator
February 22, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Clint Austin——Please explain this to me: Why is it a “problem” when several thousand of your fellow Georgia citizens line up to voluntarily pay an additional $25 every year into the State of Georgia’s treasury? Is that really a problem that needs “solving?” I look forward to your logical, well-reasoned response and explanation.
By C Ross
February 22, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
I want to know which Legislator is going to refund the $200.00 I just spent getting 4 Clemson tags for my cars.
By emmit fitzhume
February 22, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
This has lawsuit written all over it. Given the law of unintended circumstances, this bill will affect many more people than what Mr. Johnson and Mr. Flemming intended.
Where this bill fell short was not to allow a grandfather clause. The three groups followed Georgia law and thousands of Georgians incurred a cost to exercise their right of assembly.
Not counting official and motorcycle plates, Georgia has over 120 specialize plates, several of which are duplicative…. There is a plate to “sterilize your pet” and a plate to “spay or neuter your pet.” I am pretty sure they are one and the same….
Had this bill included a grandfather clause, things probably would have been ok, but as it stands, the state of Georgia is going to spend millions defending a law that infringes on the rights on those who choose to assemble in a lawful manner.
Oh, by the way, trying legislate what other state legislatures do is an infringement on interstate commerce…
By Mike Schinkel
February 23, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
Yet another reason why the rest of the country rightly looks down on Georgia. How about addressing some of real issues for a change? Sheesh.
By GodHatesTrash
February 23, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
Take away the Gator plates, and declare war on TN.
Georgia is a state chock full of morons. The arsehole of the Americas.
By Dave H.
February 23, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
When people like Mike and “GHT” use such a wide brush to criticize, there’s no pleasing them so why even try.
For the average person who isn’t bitter, I think the bill is worth the minimal effort as Clint states.
In Georgia, I think it takes 500 to put down a $25 deposit - correct me if I’m wrong.
In Florida, it takes $75,000 and 250,000 signatures just to apply for an out-of-state school plate. In other words, don’t even try.
If you morons calling Georgia “infantile” would do a little research, you’d realize that Georgia has been much more fair and receptive than our bordering states with regard to this issue.
But it’s much easier to anonymously smear an entire population when you ignore the facts. Pretty much any half-truth opportunity will do, right morons?
By emmit fitzhume
February 23, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Dave H
Neither you, nor Clint have addressed the real issue. How many citizens of Alabama, South Carolina, or Florida pay taxes, vote, or are residents of Georgia? A simplified answer is none. Why does the legislature care how those states treat it’s citizens?
If you cut right to it, the legislature doesn’t care how those states treat its citizens, there are just some members who don’t like the schools who have legally obtained the right to have the specialty plates made.
More to the point, the legislation as written guarantees that the three alumni clubs who have gone through the process will lose their plates as it authorized the commissioner of revenue to negotiate with other states to get a reciprocity agreement. The authors know damned well that it will take an act of each state legislature to change the laws in order for the reciprocity agreement to go into affect. Result, good by Auburn, Clemson and Florida plates.
By Dave
February 23, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Emmit,
Good point. This shouldn’t have been allowed in the first place. I’d be for allowing a “grandfather clause” for current out-of-state school plate holders, since they followed the rules at the time.
By Martiros
February 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
I understand the want for fairness here with tags. But aren’t the minutes legislators spend on Gators and Bulldogs minutes aren’t spending on trauma care and transportation?
By Martiros
February 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
I understand the want for fairness here with tags. But aren’t the minutes legislators spend on Gators and Bulldogs minutes they aren’t spending on trauma care and transportation?
By Tom
February 23, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
I personally don’t care a bit about the 3 out of state schools. But, I do care about the right of Georgians to express themselves. If some Georgians want to have “Gator” plates, don’t be petty, let them do it. It is a shame that Flordia does not do right by its citizens, but I do not see how punishing some Georgians for the sins of Florida makes sense.
By Atlanta Gator
February 23, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Gentlemen——There are currently over 10,000 Auburn specialty tags, and over 1,000 each of the Clemson and Florida tags, with more being issued every day. Apart from the $25 manufacturing fee and the $25 application fee, the Department of Revenue also charges an annual $25 specialty tag fee. Even at current numbers, the $25 annual tag fee represents over $300,000 worth of voluntary contributions to the State of Georgia’s treasury every year.
With the Atlanta alumni groups for virtually all of the other SEC and ACC schools now interested in obtaining specialty tags for their respective school’s Georgia alumni, H.B. 1165 represents potentially millions of dollars worth of lost voluntary contributions to the State of Georgia’s treasury. Now, that’s foolish and ill-considered legislation … talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
At the end of the day, this is not about fairness to the fans of Georgia universities who live in the adjoining states. It’s about fairness to Georgia citizens and taxpayers——all of whom live, work and earn their livings in the State of Georgia.
By Martiros
February 23, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I hear you. But fairness at Grady and fairness in the Southeast’s water distribution I would hope are more deserving issues than car tags.
By Atlanta Gator
February 23, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
Dave H——I am not inclined to call anyone names, especially since I am a Georgia citizen who also happens to be University of Florida alumnus. However, I would like to know the source of your “facts” regarding the State of Florida’s specialty tag application process, because your “facts” are simply incorrect.
First, the Florida application fee is $60,000 (not $75,000 reported by you); the Georgia application fee is $25,000. Second, the State of Florida does not require any applicant signatures (and certainly not the fanciful 250,000 signatures alleged by you); Georgia requires 1,000 applicant signatures. Florida does, however, require a scientific survey showing that at least 30,000 Florida residents would be interested in purchasing such a proposed tag. As a practical matter, Florida will also decertify any specialty tag whose total numbers fall below 1,000 in any given 12-month period.
Before you comment on these “facts” again, I suggest that you review Section 320.08053, Fla. Stat., which governs the issuance of new Florida specialty tags. There are already enough false “facts” in circulation regarding this topic.
By Atlanta Gator
February 23, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Martiros——Undoubtedly, this is a small issue in the grand scheme of things, and especially so in light of all of the other pressing issues facing the Georgia General Assembly. So, I ask you, why are Sen. Johnson and Rep. Fleming spending any time on it at all?
Here is my explanation of the real reasons behind HB 1165——Rep. Fleming is seeking support for a Republican primary challenge of the freshman incumbent Republican congressman, Paul Broun, in a congressional district that includes Athens. Sen. Johnson, a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, also aspires to higher office, and is attempting to shore up his Georgia bona fides by making an issue of these out-of-state alumni tags among his south Georgia constituents. The so-called “fairness” and “reciprocity” issues are red herrings.
By emmit fitzhume
February 23, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
The Georgia legislature can have my Clemson plate when they pry it out of my cold dead hand!
or on second hand, if Johnson and Flemming want it so bad, they can bend over and i will send it special delivery.
By Dave
February 26, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe that my representative, Mark Burkhalter, and my former representative, Chuck Martin, both from North Fulton County, actually were co-signatories to this bill. Gees, what a bunch of do-nothings they are, working on this instead of something important. Good job guys. Have you done anything of importance lately, besides helping pandering for votes for a fellow representative? Republicans are as bad as Democrats… both parties are an embarrassment.