Tea Party license plate, official state gun approved

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

As I have warned before, "Let's not get carried away here, people." While Governor Brewer has vetoed some very bad Tea-Publican bills, she will throw them a bone for their pet bills that she does not believe will seriously affect this state, other than make us the butt of jokes for late-night comedy shows.

Governor Brewer signed SB 1402 which created 11 new specialty license plates, including the "Don't Tread On Me" Gadsden flag plate to benefit Tea Party organizations. My version (right) is more accurate.

This bill has some legal issues surrounding it, as it is the only license plate that benefits a political organization and it is run by a nonprofit committee appointed by elected officials who stand to directly benefit from those activities. About that 'Tea Party' license plate. I expect a legal challenge.

Brewer acted on the license plate bills late Thursday, approving them despite previously expressing concern about Arizona's absurd number of specialty license plates now numbering 46. Brewer OKs bill for Arizona tea party license plate:

The Legislature completed action April 26 on the bill authorizing the tea party plate. In the run-up to approval, opponents said the tag inappropriately promotes a specific political movement. Supporters said it's meant to stand up for constitutional principles. [Oh, please…]

Brewer felt comfortable signing the bill authorizing the tea party plate because the movement "is not a purely political organization," spokesman Matt Benson said Friday.

True. It is a corporate-funded front group for the Koch brothers' Americans For Prosperity and FreedomWorks, headed by front-man Dick Armey. It is corporate Astroturf that feigns to be a grassroots political movement. Take away the corporate funding and it disappears.

Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Phoenix) said it's wrong to use state resources to support a political organization, whether the tea party or the Democratic Party. "Why not get a bumper stick like everybody else?" [Damn straight!]

Backers now must raise $32,000 to design and produce the plate.

The Koch brothers carry around that much money in pocket change. The check has already been cut.

Brewer signed another totally unnecessary bill, SB 1610, designating the Colt Single-Action Army Revolver as Arizona's "official" state gun. We'll all be able to sleep better tonight knowing that we have an "official" state gun. Arizona Capitol Times » Brewer signs bill making Colt state gun:

Legislative supporters argued that the designation was appropriate because the revolver was widely used during Arizona territorial days.

Opponents said it was inappropriate to give the official designation to an out-of-state company’s commercial product.

Democratic Rep. Albert Hale also called the gun an instrument of destruction that was used against Native Americans.

I hope Native Americans will turn out in big numbers next November to express their displeasure with this Tea-Publican insult to Native Americans.

Connecticut-based Colt does not operate in Arizona and did not pay anything for the naming rights of "Arizona's official gun." The Tea-Publican legislature just gave away the "honor" without obtaining any financial benefit to the state. And they call themselves businessmen.

h/t Arizona Capitol Times