THREAT OF LAWSUIT WEIGHS ON GOVERNOR’S DECISION
FITSNews – June 3, 2008 – S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford “could go either way” on a bill that would establish a Christian specialty license plate in South Carolina, one of the governor’s top policy advisors told FITSNews this afternoon.
“It’s up in the air right now,” the advisor said, noting that the governor has until midnight tomorrow to decide whether or not he will sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature.
Some are urging Sanford to consider the legal ramifications of the license plate bill becoming law, specifically the costs taxpayers would be forced to absorb in defending the state against the inevitable lawsuit.
“I respect the strongly held beliefs of the supporters of the I BELIEVE special license plate,” said Stefan Lonce, author of the forthcoming book, LCNS2ROM – License to Roam: Vanity License Plates and the GR8 Stories They Tell . “However, if Governor Sanford approves the I BELIEVE plate bill, then South Carolina taxpayers would have to pay to defend the plate in court, unless a legal defense fund were organized.”
Four years ago, a federal court threw out South Carolina’s “Choose Life” anti-abortion license plates, although today a new version of the tags were unveiled today at the State House.
Earlier this year, our own Sic Willie proposed a ban on specialty license plates as part of his infamous “95 Theses.”
By I BELIEVE -- Let Me!! June 4, 2008 at 9:02 am
Re: “…if Governor Sanford approves the I BELIEVE plate bill, then South Carolina taxpayers would have to pay to defend the plate in court, unless a legal defense fund were organized.â€
Maybe there are enough Christian lawyers and taxpayers to take a stand and allow it to be defended! It’s a long shot on the lawyer pool, but go for it Guv!!!
By Gene E. Nowak June 4, 2008 at 1:33 pm
This bill should be viewed as what it is a “Lawyer welfare†bill. It will be legated and the state will be billed for the costs by all parties to the lawsuit. The abortion plate was a $400,000.00+ payday for the winners alone. This one should be as lucrative as that one was or even better.
I am not opposed to the idea, but I am realistic about the chances of it being ruled illegal and feel there better ways to express our beliefs and to spend our money both personal and taxes. We do not need to try to force feed the socialists’ in our court and legal professions.
By JoAnn LeMieux June 6, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I am not a socialist nor do I believe in god. That is my personal choice and I am a little upset by the fact that every time I turn around religion is being forced down my throat. The state should make available a plate that says I do not believe in invisible people. Please keep church and state separate.
By I Believe -- LET ME!!! June 8, 2008 at 6:04 am
Ref: http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/388348.aspx
“The whole issue here is that people are trying to get the state to endorse their religion, and that’s wrong,” ACLU’s Dr. T. Jeremey Gunn said. “It’s almost as if there’s insufficient support, and they have to go to the state to get it.”
>>> ………And here is our rebuttal, Dr. Bozo:
There IS insufficient support — our courts have been vomiting this DIS-SUPPORT since 1963, when prayer was banned in public schools. The sacred is torn from our lives with greater intensity each and every day.
###IT’S AN OPTIONAL PLATE, DR. BOZO###
Pingback: South Carolina Got Sued | FITSNews For Now
Pingback: Three Brown Noses :: FITSNews