License to Steal

Doubtless Illinois is broke. But not so broke what can't be fixed by selling to companies, for a price, the right to plaster their logos on Illinois license plates. That's the plan of the Legislature, which wants the Secretary of State to get on the stick and start licensing space on license plates to their big corporate donors. Your LakeCountyEye estimates the plan would put the state in the black within a year, and -- woohoo! -- without raising taxes. It's working in Texas — the only state that offers corporate-sponsored plates — no doubt about it. Since some politically connected company began producing corporate plates for Texas in 2009, a sizable 505 have been sold, bringing in a whopping $53,000 for the Beehive State's general revenue fund. Does the Land of Lincoln really want to become the Land of Nike? That, in the opinion of your LakeCountyEye, would be a far sight better than the Land of Hush Puppies! What a long strange trip it's been.

EagleEyed™ operatives will note your LakeCountyEye be cold rippin-off the News-Sun again ...

No question about it, Illinois is broke. But are we so desperate to put, for a price, company logos on state license plates? That's the plan of a bill passed by the Legislature which directs the Secretary of State's Office to study the possibility of offering corporate-sponsored plates to drivers at a discount. Proponents of the plan say it would be a terrific way for the state to pull in new revenue without raising taxes. But based on how it's working in Texas — the only state that offers corporate-sponsored plates — we doubt it. Since a private company began producing corporate plates for Texas in 2009, a mere 505 have been sold, bringing in just $53,000 for the Lone Star State's general revenue fund. Does the Land of Lincoln really want to become the Land of Nike? This is one proposal which needs a road trip. A long, long one.
Darts & Laurels

DoubleEagleEyed™ operatives will note the News-Sun be rippin-off the Sun-Times ...

No question about it: Illinois is broke. But are we this desperate? The General Assembly passed a bill this spring to direct the secretary of state's office to study the possibility of putting company logos on state license plates. — for a price. The corporate-sponsored plates would be offered to drivers at a discount. Proponents of the plan say it would be a terrific way for the state to pull in new revenue without raising taxes. But based on how it's working in Texas — the only state that offers corporate-sponsored plates — we doubt it. Since a private company began producing corporate plates for Texas in 2009, 505 have been sold, bringing in just $53,000 for the state's general revenue fund, a company spokeswoman said. Illinois might fare better by offering drivers a discount for the special plates, something Texas doesn't do, but likely not enough to justify cheapening the state's image. There also are the questions of which companies would be allowed to advertise on plates and whether the state would open itself up to lawsuits by turning would-be advertisers away. Honestly, people, does the Land of Lincoln really want to become the Land of Nike? Let's not go down that road, especially for so little gain.
Editorial: License plate ads a tough sell

LegalEagleEyed™ operatives will note that while the News-Sun has been known to liberally "borrow" from other publications in order to fill their Darts & Laurels column ...

Q the Eye/06.17.11

the Sun-Times, technically, was not ripped-off here -- because they own the News-Sun. As far as your LakeCountyEye can tell the only party actually ripped-off was the reader. No harm no foul.

Operatives are advised to copy and e-mail this to 10 other blogs. The last blogger who broke the chain is now blogging somewhere. In the blogosphere.