House Republican Press Release

March 5, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

CAFERO PUSHES ‘SUPPORT OUR TROOPS’ LICENSE PLATE

HARTFORD – House Republicans, led  by state Rep. Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., today pushed lawmakers to approve a new “Support Our Troops,’’ commemorative license plate that would provide dedicated resources for veterans’ organizations.

Testifying before the Transportation Committee today, Cafero, of Norwalk, said approval of the House Republican bill would streamline the process of getting the special plate approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“We want to create a license plate that people could purchase to show their appreciation for our men and women serving in the military. As the bill is written, a portion of the proceeds from, these purchases would go o the veterans’ organizations,’’ Cafero said.

Cafero said there are two ways to get DMV to agree to a new plate. The quickest way is through the legislative process. The other, more time consuming way, is by having a sufficient number of motorists commit to buying a plate through petitions.

Cafero noted that a grassroots efforts it underway to petition DMV but he said it would be more timely if the legislature simply enacted a law. He said the house Republicans fully support the grassroots effort.

Currently there are a dozen commemorative plates that produce revenue for dedicated causes such as the Save Long Island Sound. That has raised more than $4 million for the fund. “If the ‘Support Our Troops’ plate can generate half that much it will be a success and the least that we can do is show our appreciation for our troops,’’ Cafero said.