[TN House Speaker] Naifeh wants end to specialty plates [after approval of pro-life plates]

The Nashville City Paper ^ | June 19, 2003 | Skip Cauthorn

[tdadams]

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh wants to abolish all vanity license plates, following Gov. Phil Bredesen’s move to allow a license plate promoting a pro-life abortion stance to be issued by the state.

Bredesen Tuesday let legislation allowing the state Department of Safety to issue a “Choose Life” specialty plate go unsigned through the constitutional deadline, which without a veto makes the bill law.

Naifeh says Rep. Mark Maddox (D-Dresden) is drafting legislation which would ban all specialty plates.

State specialty plates, of which more than 100 exist, promote everything from the Great Smoky Mountains to the University of Tennessee football team.

“We talked about it before the choose life thing came up,” said Naifeh. “We need to abolish them all. … I don’t think anyone, in their wildest imaginations, would have thought it would come to this.”

Naifeh says the abolishment would “hold harmless” or continue state funding to organizations that currently benefit from the proceeds generated by the tags.

“We’re really good at holding people harmless,” he said. “We usually end up making mistakes and then paying for them.”

Bredesen, who called the plate the most “overtly political” ever, had issued letters to Naifeh and Lt. Gov. John Wilder to form a joint committee between the Senate and House to study the plate issue.

“I asked the two speakers – and both have told me that they would to take a look at it,” said Bredesen. “I think [the plates] are out of control; I have to be honest. … Obviously if it gets too political and you start choosing among the political speeches I think the courts are going to get involved. … If we were to do this license plate and turn down a pro-choice license plate … I think people would be understandably very concerned that the state was putting its weight behind one particular point of view at the expense of another.”

An amendment to the “Choose Life” bill by Sen. John Ford (D-Memphis) to establish pro-choice plates failed on the Senate floor.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has threatened to file a lawsuit saying the plate would violate the separation of church and state.

Tennessee Right to Life President Brian Harris, who serves on the board of New Life Resources – the primary benefactor of potential proceeds from the “Choose Life” plate – calls the new law a “victory.”

“I never would have dreamed [Naifeh] would go to this extreme,” said Sen. Jim Bryson (R-Franklin), who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “He’s filling up the baby with the bath water. … There are many people and organizations helped by the money generated by specialty license plates. … Sounds to me like he’s trying to short circuit what the governor has done.”

One major example of funding provided by the plates is more than two-thirds of the Tennessee Arts Commission grants budget.

[tdadams]

This is absolutely outrageous. This man is so partisan, so liberal, so Democrat, so pro-abortion, and so spiteful that he would rather do away with all specialty plates - including plates celebrating Tennessee's state parks, wildlife, and children's organizations - than to allow a plate that espouses a pro-life message.

This is the same TN House speaker who held open a vote on the income tax for two hours trying to twist enough arms to pass it. The man is so corrupt he makes Tony Soprano look like the Pope.

[tdadams]

ping

[mhking]

So he throws a tantrum 'cause he doesn't want this kind of license plate?

"Hey buddy! If you don't want one, don't buy one!"

What a moron!

[TheBigB]

What a moron!

Friend, you have no idea...

[TennTuxedo]

King Naifeh holding court and strong arming the public. Whats new? When will the fools in his backyard realize how corrupt and misguiding he is?

[RockyTop4GOP]

Won't this anger more people in Tennessee than just the pro-lifers? A lot of non-profits get money from the specialty plates. Not to mention that regular Tennessee plates are just so ugly that no one wants them. There's a lot of UT fans that would be outraged at having to give up their bright orange plates.

I for one have an "Animal Friendly" plate, but will hopefully be switiching to "Choose Life."

[tdadams]

Oh, no. He's thought of that. He'll have the state pick up the tab where the extra revenue from plates leaves off.

Reread this paragraph:

Naifeh says the abolishment would “hold harmless” or continue state funding to organizations that currently benefit from the proceeds generated by the tags.

[RRWCC]

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has threatened to file a lawsuit saying the plate would violate the separation of church and state."

Man now that's a suprise! LOL

I keep several copies of the Constitution in my desk (small 3"x4" booklets). Every time I hear "separation of church and state" I hand the person a copy and ask them to show me. Most people are really amazed that it's not in there. I've even had people say "I know it's in there, this must be an edited copy." Constitutional Ignorance - very useful to the enemies of out Republic.

[RRWCC]

that would be OUR Republic

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep, basically he buys them off with taxpayer money.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The phrase "seperation of chrurch and state" IS in the Constitution. The old Soviet Union Constitution, that is. So, you can see how they get confused so easily.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Naifeh is from a rural district about as far from Nashville as you can get. The people there don't hear a tenth of what is going on.

[RRWCC]

Thanks for the correction! NOW I understand.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Rumor has it that Naifeh and Deberry and Ford and all the legislators who were at Mario's are the subject of a Grand Jury investigation for basically accepting bribes from lobbyists.

[Blood of Tyrants]

P.S. Freepmail me with your email add and I will forward you a copy of what I have.

[Still Thinking]

But up till now, the money came from people who sympathized with the particular causes, and now it will come from general revenue. So he's going to turn a program which has until now allowed people to fund causes they believed in while getting a good plate (freedom) into more of the usual armed extortion where the govt forces people to fund things with which they disagree (tyranny). Smooth.

[newgeezer]

I just love how this issue gives such people the opportunity to expose themselves for all to see.

[DWPittelli]

So you can choose abortion, but you can't choose to display and fund your opposition to abortion or else he'll take all his marbles and go home?

[wardaddy]

MHK...

Naifeh is the worst blight on this state since Blanton.

[Grammy]

I just called the county clerk to see when these plates would be available. She didn't even know that it had become law yet. Anyone know when they come out?