(Chuck Muth) – This morning, the Las Vegas Review-Journal editorialized against Assemblyman Ed Goedhart’s (Disclosure: he’s a client of mine) proposal to create a “Don’t Tread on Me” (DTOM) specialty license plate honoring the tea party movement, with the proceeds going towards a project to publish pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions to distribute to high school kids.
As to the paper’s point that there are already too many specialty license plates and “As more enter production in Nevada and other states, the greater the likelihood that a plate’s state of origin can’t be determined at a glance,” fine. Then do away with ALL the specialty plates, don’t just single out the DTOM plate.
As for the paper’s argument that “Specialty plates are more expensive than standard ones because they benefit nonprofits and charities,” the fact is the additional cost is paid for by drivers who VOLUNTARILY pay extra to get the specialty plates. In other words, it’s a true “user fee.” If you don’t want to pay the extra money, then you just get a regular license plate.
And as for the objection that Mr. Goedhart “has no nonprofit group lined up to carry out the mission” of publishing pocket Constitutions, that’s not even remotely a problem. One need not set up a whole new non-profit organization to take on such a mission. ANY existing non-profit educational organization that believes in limited-government, low taxation, free markets and individual liberty could take on this project. An organization such as, well….
Citizen Outreach Foundation.
Problem solved.
