A new petition by the advocacy group D.C. Vote asks President Obama to replace the license plates on White House vehicles–and especially the Presidential Limo–to ones that include the “Taxation Without Representation” message. DC changed their license plates in 2000 to draw attention to the lack of congressional representation that the more than 600,000 residents of the city experience. The motto harkens back to revolutionary times, when early colonists protested against British rule.
Although President Clinton had White House license plates changed to include the new motto, President Bush soon took office and had the plates replaced again to ones without the motto. President Obama has voiced support for DC representation, but has yet to address the issue seriously, and has not changed official license plates to include the message. Advocates would like to see the plates changed before President Obama’s 2nd inauguration.
