Witness: Low-Digit Plates Financed Ryan (ex-Illinois Gov.)

Newsday.com ^ | 2/24/03 | Mike Robinson - AP

[NormsRevenge]

CHICAGO -- Coveted low-digit license plates were swapped for contributions to George Ryan's gubernatorial campaign, a witness testified Monday at a racketeering trial targeting one of Ryan's former top aides and his campaign committee.

Larry Hall, who worked for Ryan when he was secretary of state, testified he arranged for those willing to contribute as much as $1,000 to get the prestigious low-digit plates.

Hall told the federal racketeering trial of Scott Fawell -- Ryan's former chief of staff -- and the Citizens for Ryan campaign committee that the scheme was a "cash cow" and that he would keep Fawell updated regularly on how much money was flowing in.

[denydenydeny]

What do you do if you're an utterly corrupt politician, and you know it, but you want to make yourself feel better?

a) Admit your guilt and resign.
b) Make restitution to all the people you've swindled out of money
c) Pardon all the murderers.

[Sandy]

prestigious low- digit plates

Huh? What's a low-digit plate, and why is it prestigious?

[Future Useless Eater]

The state has a lot of clout in lots of other areas besides license plates.

You can bet your A$$ this is just the tip of an iceberg.

[texasbluebell]

What do you do if you're an utterly corrupt politician, and you know it, but you want to make yourself feel better?

d) Make sure someone nominates you for a Nobel Peace Prize.

[Southack]

"Huh? What's a low-digit plate, and why is it prestigious?"

Low digit plates (like the number "8") are given as political favors to signal that you are a VIP or a wife/mistress of a VIP, in order to signal to the highway patrol to leave you alone as you blast down the road throwing vodka bottles out of your Porsche.

[dts32041]

You mean my plate 581 is low digit.

Of course it has a N under the V on the side, so I guess it isn't the prestigious.

I will give old Jesse "The Grave Robber" white his due, he has definitely come up with a greter choice of plate designs.