Monday former Congressman Bill Sali released a letter to the members of the House of Representatives of the Idaho Legislature. The letter was about pending legislation, House Bill 510 introduced by Sali which would allow for a license plate displaying our “In God We Trust” national motto. The Statement of Purpose of House Bill 510 reads,
“This legislation will create a National Motto specialty license plate. Part of the fees collected for these license plates will go to the American Heritage Foundation to provide materials for purposes such as helping to educate the public regarding the founding principles of the United States of America, promoting citizenship and patriotism and promoting honor and respect for positions of public service and authority, including military service and veterans, law enforcement, educators, firefighters, first responders and elected offices.”
According to the Sali letter, there have been attempts to derail the legislation. Sali wrote “Sadly, some have attacked out intentions. A Spokesman-Review Editorial claimed we intended to “pay Bill Sali”. Also Rep. Phyllis King recently appeared on KIVI TV claiming that the license plate fees would “go to” Director Sali “personally” to “line his own pockets”.
Sali’s letter goes on to state that as a non-profit organization that adheres to the transparency and reporting requirements of the IRS, such behavior on the part of any of the directors would be impossible. The letter also states that American Heritage Foundation will also adhere to the standards of Charity Navigator, a private organization that insures its members follow best management practices in the running of their charities.
We heard that House Transportation Vice Chairman Rep. Julie Ellsworth is attempting to amend HB 510 to remove from the bill the American Heritage Foundation and replace it with the Idaho Food Bank. Evidentially Rep. Ellsworth does not think that “educat[ing] the public regarding the founding principles of the United States of America” as so stated in the bill’s Statement of Purpose is a worthy cause. It appears the chairman of the committee; Rep. Joe Palmer, supports the Ellsworth’s attempt to amend the legislation.
Specialty License plate bills have been somewhat controversial in the legislature. Some members believe that we should not have any specialty license plates in Idaho. A handful of members will vote against every specialty license plate bill every time. Noe one knows of any other attempt to do what Ellsworth is trying to do, and that is to strip out of a specialty license bill the organization that brought the bill to the legislature and replace it with another organization that had nothing to do with the drafting of the legislation. We also don’t know of any specialty license plate bill that has ever failed to get through the legislative process.
We think conservatives should support former Congressman Sali is his attempt to provide for an “In God We Trust” specialty license plate. If you agree, please contact the members of the House Transportation Committee and tell them pass HB510 without any amendments. You may call them at (208) 332-1000. Or send them an e-mail. Below are listed the members of that committee:
Chair Joe Palmer jpalmer@house.idaho.gov
Vice Chair Julie Ellsworth jellsworth@house.idaho.gov
JoAn E. Wood jwood@house.idaho.gov
Leon E. Smith lsmith@house.idaho.gov
Scott Bedke sbedke@house.idaho.gov
Richard Wills rwills@house.idaho.gov
Phil Hart phart@house.idaho.gov
Bob Nonini bnonini@house.idaho.gov
Marv Hagedorn mhagedorn@house.idaho.gov
Linden B. Bateman lbatemen@house.idaho.gov
Frank N. Henderson fhenderson@house.idaho.gov
Jeff Nesset jnesset@house.idaho.gov
Shirley G. Ringo sringo@house.idaho.gov
Phylis K. King pking@house.idaho.gov
William M. Killen wkillen@house.idaho.gov