State Senate OKs License Plate in Reagan’s Honor

With overwhelming bipartisan support, the state Senate on Tuesday approved a new license plate bearing former President Ronald Reagan’s likeness to raise money for his presidential library.

Even the well-known liberal Democratic leader of the Senate, John Burton, who recalled his years of legislative battles when the conservative Republican was governor, endorsed the bill.

“If we can name bills after a whole lot of legislators around [here] for a week, we can give a license plate to Ronald Reagan for the library,” he said.

If the bill is signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis, the Reagan license plate would be the first in state history to have the image of a person on it.

The bill, already passed by the Assembly, was approved 30-4 by the Senate, with Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) the only lawmaker to argue that the state already has too many special plates that are difficult, because of their graphic design, for police and witnesses to read.

Efforts to kill the bill in committee for that reason were thwarted when former First Lady Nancy Reagan solicited help from Sen. Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga), who in turn pleaded successfully with Burton.

Bowen questioned the wisdom of honoring individuals such as the former president, predicting an “endless stream of requests” for other notable Californians--Earl Warren, Pat Brown, Howard Jarvis and Joe DiMaggio, to name a few.

Among the special interest plates currently offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles are those to raise funds for Yosemite National Park, the California Arts Council and Lake Tahoe.

Noting that legislators are at odds over other pending requests for special-interest license plates this year, Bowen said, “We have enough difficulty choosing between breast cancer, the Rotary Club and the Boy Scouts” without getting into honoring individuals.

The Reagan license plate bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), now moves to the governor for his consideration. He has not yet taken a position on the measure.

More than 7,000 people have already signed up to buy the plates, which would cost $50 initially and $40 to renew each year.

Besides Bowen, Democratic Sens. Martha Escutia of Whittier, Patrick Johnston of Stockton and Jackie Speier of Daly City also voted against the bill.

In other actions, the Senate:

* Approved and sent to Davis a bill that would repeal a Wilson-era policy restricting media access to state prison inmates. AB 1440, by Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), would require prison officials to arrange news interviews, provided that they did not jeopardize prison security or public safety. “If there is nothing wrong in our prisons, then we have nothing to fear with the media having access,” said Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine). “If there is something wrong, then this bill is sorely needed.”

* Adopted without debate nonbinding resolution AJR 27 by Assemblyman Mike Honda (D-San Jose), which demands that the Japanese government apologize for war crimes its military committed during World War II and immediately pay reparations to victims, including American military and civilian prisoners of war, survivors of the “Rape of Nanking” and sex slaves known as “comfort women.”

* Approved and sent to Davis a bill to let cities and counties set up needle-exchange programs for drug addicts. AB 518 by Kerry Mazzoni (D-San Rafael) is meant to slow the spread of AIDS and other diseases that can be transmitted by used needles. It would authorize programs under which addicts could trade used hypodermic needles for new ones.