'Support our troops' plate faces opposition

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/2879853.shtml

'Support our troops' plate faces opposition


AUGUSTA -- A state legislator who wants the state to create a license plate to help the families of Mainers serving overseas in the National Guard and Reserves has overcome the first hurdle in his campaign, but a possible political battle still looms.

Democratic Rep. Donald Pilon of Saco got the process started by submitting more than 2,000 signatures to the state from motorists who say they would buy the plates. But the Legislature has final say on specialty licenses and the debate there could be controversial because critics view the plate's support-our-troops message as backing the war in Iraq.

Pilon says he opposes the war, but he acknowledged that some Mainers might see the license plate as conveying the opposite point of view. Pilon is now trying to raise $40,000 by Sept. 1, to meet a state rule requiring him to cover the startup costs for a new plate.

The tags would feature a yellow ribbon superimposed on an outline of the state and the words "We Support Our Troops" across the bottom of the license plate.