MVC Nominee To Inherit "Choose Life" Lawsuit (Plus: UPDATE on Schundler Confirmation)
Posted March 12, 2010

Question: What does the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) have to do with pro-life and free-speech issues? 

Answer: A lot!

And Raymond P. Martinez, Governor Chris Christie's pick to head the MVC, may soon find himself in the midst of a battle over both.

Here is the story.

The State of New Jersey is currently facing a lawsuit because previous MVC commissioners have blocked "Choose Life - Choose Adoption" license plates. It should be noted that New Jersey already allows a host of so-called "dedicated plates," the proceeds of which benefit a specific organization.

Yet, while New Jerseyans can purchase a dedicated license plate marked "Meadowlands" or "Animal Friendly," - or even a specialty license plate labeled "Square Dancer" (yes, seriously) - the state has said "no" to the message of life and adoption. 

As Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles from 2000 to 2005, Martinez has some experience in specialty plates. In 2004, he helped unveil New York's "Life - Pass It On" plate to support organ and tissue donation and research. Yet, when it came to approving a "Choose Life" plate, Martinez said no. In fact, not only did he reject the plate but he was also named as a party in a lawsuit seeking to block the pro-life license plate on the purported grounds of First Amendment violations and other causes.

Can a state reject a license plate simply because it disagrees with the message? The NJ MVC apparently thinks so. And on Martinez's watch, the NY DMV apparently did, too. 

We think they're wrong.

Now, only Senate confirmation stands between Martinez and the position of Chair and Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.  If confirmed, what stand will he take?

While the most obvious issues in this case are life and speech, the issue of finances is also a factor. With New Jersey struggling to get out of the financial mess we've been in, Martinez could have the ability to save the state money with a simple stroke of his pen by administratively approving the "Choose Life" license plates and, we believe, ending the lawsuit against the state.

Will he do it?  Only time will tell. But rest assured, we'll be watching.

And in other news.

Great news from Trenton to report! By a 35-2 vote, the Senate yesterday confirmed Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. Schundler is a staunch advocate of choice in education, and we look forward to his leadership of this influential department.

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