Georgia legislators approved a bill to feature one of Donald Trump's favorite sayings on vehicle license plates — and almost passed another one that would have mocked the Republican Party's loyalty to the former president.
The state Senate voted 34-19 on a mostly party-line vote to approve the tagline "America First" — which Senate majority leader Steve Gooch said would “reinforce a sense of national pride and unity" — on specialty license plates.
But Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin offered a sarcastic amendment, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"McLaurin offered an amendment changing 'America First' to 'Donald Trump First,'" the newspaper reported, "which the Sandy Springs Democrat said would reflect 'the heart and the spirit of the legislation' and would address 'what the bill is really about.'"
Another version of McLaurin's amendment, which included the word "narcissism" in reference to the ex-president, nearly passed after getting the backing of some Republicans — it received 26 votes in favor and 29 against.
Gooch insisted the license plate tagline was not a reference to Trump's frequently used phrase.
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“It’s not about a person — it sure is not about a person that’s in the White House, who’s been in the White House or who may be in the White House in the future,” Gooch said. “It’s about our nation and our country and the state of Georgia.”
“If you’re not a patriot and you’re not for unity in this country and supporting what’s good for our nation, hit the red button [to vote no],” he added. “If you want to put our nation first and make America a priority, hit the green button.”
The bill next goes to the state House for consideration and would require Gov. Brian Kemp's signature to become law.
Gooch championed a bill to establish a state panel to investigate and remove purportedly wayward prosecutors after Trump was indicted in the state, but he pushed back against calls from hardcore MAGA state Sen. Colton Moore to call a special session to directly impeach Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis.
