Posted on 08/16/2004 1:16:29 PM PDT by jettester
Cool it!
You got Arnold!
And you still have to badmouth McClintock?
While you have no idea what his motives were. How fair and reasonable of you.
Dear (Name deleted):
I have been shown an e-mail from a Dana Serrano Chisolm that has been circulated on the Internet regarding my vote on ab477. It contains a wealth of misinformation and I would appreciate your help in setting the record straight.
First, she describes the measure as a "Choose-Life Plates Bill." In fact, the measure says nothing about "Choose Life" license plates. Its actual effect is to provide for automatic DMV approval of ALL specialty plates that attract 7,500 applicants - which would include license plates supporting and funding abortion, gay rights, and every other liberal cause you can imagine.
As you are aware, the email goes into great detail (probably too much) about the history of the California Choose Life plates and how they have come to this point - "Choose Life" plates legislation, lawsuit against the State, and now a bill that would change the system so that it is equal to all plates. I believe I can safely say that you all understand that progression - not that this bill was still a "Choose Life" plate bill.
And yes, it would make the process available to any and all applicants that can prove they are non-profit organizations and garner 8,000 (not 7500 since its last amendment) individuals willing to purchase the sponsored plate. In fact, that is the key feature in keeping specialty plate proliferation to a minimum as many plates that have passed the Legislative body in the past have failed to garner the necessary 7500 to make it to the road. But, it is the fair process to allow that for all - not picking and choosing - that we are seeking. Free Speech for all. If any liberal organization can garner 8,000 supporters, it is not up to me to squelch their efforts.
And, again, the previous system is already open to any and all liberal groups to have plates - and they do. The system required that specialty plates get approval by the Legislature - which is liberal. Now, because of the Senators fight against this bill that would have changed that, the liberal groups will continue to be able to get specialty plates, and our cause will not.
Second, she says that I voted "No" on the bill. In fact, I abstained from voting on the bill, as did pro-life senators Bill Morrow and Roy Ashburn. I did so because I oppose the politicization of California's license plates and the out-of-control proliferation of such plates that this bill would unleash.
In fact our email said: "..McClintock who led the charge against the legislation saying, "Let them just get bumper stickers". It lost 1 to 5, with 7 absent or abstaining - which included McClintock, Morrow leaving the room (apparently sick that day) and Brulte the only yes vote." and continued: "The fact is, as everyone knows, the power of persuasion and playing the political game is far more powerful than any one of their votes. The bill had been flying through without opposition up until McClintock stepped up and threw his weight in the way of its progress. "
It is a very old political trick to "abstain" for the record while killing the bill in discussion and behind closed doors. Note in this questionable situation the majority "vote" was to abstain! Abstain = 7, voting both "yes" & "no" was only a total of 6. No one gets to claim innocence on this one when they are afraid to even vote! The point was that your staff person's excuse was that "your vote wouldn't have mattered anyway since it lost 5 to 1", but it was your arguing and working the system to get that 5 to 1 vote that was your "vote no" to kill the bill.
Finally, it should also be noted that this bill permits a sponsoring organization to siphon off 25 percent of the funds raised from the license plates for "administrative purposes," which means that some individuals would be making a great deal of money from it. That may explain the agitated tone of the e-mail.
First, this was not the argument used prior to this.
Second, this attempt at a personal attack on all of our motives and integrity on these plates only calls into question the Senators motives and integrity in the events of this shocking week. Even if it were true, anyone who is truly pro-life and not just claiming the label for political gain, would gladly support ANY pro-life group getting funds previously only available to liberal groups and the opposition. Even if it were 100% of the money going to only ONE pro-life group, I would support that!
Third, that isn't the case. Specialty plates have always, and would have continued, to allow in this bill no organization "to spend more than 25% on administrative costs". It was/is a wise safety net guaranteeing that the funds would go directly to the project - in this case, organizations that support adoption and offer alternatives to abortion. This was in the legislation years ago, and is the industry standard set by the United Way that no non-profit should use more than 25% on administration. That includes the plates already in existence such as Yosemite, the Whale Tail, 9/11 etc. There are costs associated with garnering the 8,000 required drivers, and continuing to promote the plates to raise the millions for adoption and alternatives to abortion. As any businessman would know, these plates aren't going to advertise themselves, the database and registrations aren't going to get to the DMV on their own, and the church bulletin inserts and postcards you all have been circulating so diligently have not been free!
The 25% maximum guarantees that the costs to promote and process the plates is kept at a minimum, something I have always thought was wise so no organization could simply absorb all the money for administration of their general operating budgets. With millions being raised for adoption, it would not have been difficult to stay under the 25% restrictions and continue to promote the plates for years, raising more and more money for alternatives to abortion! :-) The previous law (and this one would have continued it) requires that reports be made to the DMV, audits filed annually, and should any organization exceed the 25% maximum, the plates are taken under review and possibly discontinued. Yes - a very good thing indeed.
I invite you to review the bill, committee analyses and committee vote at www.senate.ca.gov. Use the "Legislation" link to look up the bill.
Yes, I invite everyone to read the bill.
Sincerely,
Tom McClintock
It appears that the good Senator STILL has not taken the time to understand or care about the issue of Life and the much needed funding for it. I am so sorry. I cannot say that enough. I am so sorry to all of you for this and look forward and continue to pray for wisdom for those in Sacramento and those that would advise them on such matters. Its beginning to remind me of a particular scene in Lord of the Rings in the advising of the King....I pray the King snaps out of it :-)
Dana Serrano Chisholm The Network, Women's Resources 2411 E. Valley Parkway #315 Escondido, CA 92027 (760) 741-5114 (760) 741-2103 fax (760) 822-4115 cell
"But, as for me, it is good to be near God" - Psalm 73:28
Sounds like legitimate arguments can be made both for and against the bill. Tom McClintock happens to disagree with Chisholm and opposes the bill. Chisholm isn't happy about that, so Chisholm is putting out semi-hysterical email rants attacking McClintock.
Too bad, Chisholm, but that's life.
The Senator's e-mail is self-explanatory. The issue is D-E-A-D. Try again next year.
Yoo hoo...
If the measure only addressed the "choose life" issue, it probably would not pass, since few if any of the Democrats aren't strongly pro-abortion. If the measure only addressed a "choose abortion" platform, I would hope the Governor would veto it. Since CA is more likely to have enough people supporting liberal issues, liberal plates would be more common with this bill.
It would be best to reserve license plates for their original function -- to identify the cars or something like that. We already see various out-of-state plates and Mexican plates, so why should we help camouflage those foreign plates by creating numerous CA plates?
I don't understand why people supporting an issue would want one of those specialty license plates. It would be cheaper and more effective to pay for regular registration, use a bumper sticker, and donate the remaining money to the organization (eliminating the DMV middleman).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.