Today I got my annual vehicle registration renewal notice in the mail. $40 of my bill is for my special license plate, a 9-11 memorial plate. I got this plate right after 9-11 with the understanding that the money would go to fight terrorism in California and also to fund scholarships for the children of California victims. Back in May of this year, though, the Associated Press did a good bit of investigative reporting and found some disturbing information about where the $15M collected has really been spent.
First, both Governors Schwarzenegger and Brown have raided $3M (20%) of this fund in an attempt to balance the state's general fund. Second, the California Department of Food and Agriculture took $3.7M from the fund and spent it on salaries and benefits, printing costs, furniture, and auto inspections. Only 40% of the fund ($6M) has actually gone to funding anti-terrorism efforts, and even worse, only $21,381 went to scholarships for victims' families.
So, not only has the State of California wasted my money, but they lied to me about what they were going to do with my donations. Well, fool me once, but no more. Tomorrow I'm sending in the forms to return my plate. I'm not going to keep giving corrupt liars any more money than I have to. My money would be much better off going to the Friends of NRA, where I know the money goes to help under-funded police departments—and other good causes, too.
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