Beshear seeks optional "In God We Trust" Ky. plate

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FRANKFORT, Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear said he will seek legislation authorizing an"In God We Trust" auto license plate when lawmakers return toFrankfort early next year.
Beshear wants Kentucky drivers to be able to choose the licenseplate as an alternative to the current "Unbridled Spirit" plate thestate issues.
Both plates would cost $21.
"'In God We Trust' is essentially our national motto," Beshear toldThe Courier-Journal. "And that national motto belongs to everyAmerican and indeed every Kentuckian. In my opinion nobody shouldhave to pay extra to have that national motto reflected on theirlicense plate."
Beshear's transportation secretary, Joe Prather, sent a letter onMonday asking the chairmen of the House and Senate transportationcommittees to pass legislation creating the new license plates nextyear.
Rep. Jim Gooch sponsored similar legislation earlier this year. Itpassed the House unanimously, but failed in the Senate.
Beshear is scheduled to begin a series of town hall meetings onThursday. Spokesman Dick Brown said the meetings will allow thegovernor to listen to the concerns of Kentuckians and to talk tothem about his goals for the state.
"Certainly, it doesn't hurt for people to see him without thefilter of the media, so that they can judge for themselves the kindof job he's doing, the kind of governor he is," Brown said.
Beshear had gotten off to a rocky start with state lawmakers, whorejected his top legislative priority - a proposed constitutionalamendment to allow casinos to open in the state.
Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson questionedBeshear's motivation for proposing the license plate.
"Quite frankly, for him to come out with an issue like this as hebegins a statewide image tour just smacks of politics," Robertsonsaid.
Robertson said Beshear's call for such legislation would haveappeared more sincere if he had gotten behind the earlier proposal.
Indiana lawmakers approved an "In God We Trust" license plate in2006. More than 1.6 million motorists in that state have gottenthem since they became available in January 2007.