On June 6, 2014 I saw a news blurb regarding the production of the Legacy Plates in California and wanted to share with you why some of us are not excited about this plate. I am 1 of 4 Breast Cancer Survivors that have been fighting with (our own) State Senator, Mark DeSaulnier to pass a legislative bill called AB49, otherwise known as CA Pink Plate. This plate will bear an all pink background, very similar to the legacy plate's all yellow, black, or blue and will display the message "Early Detection Saves Lives". Unlike the Legacy Plates, the proceeds from our plate will go towards a state funded program called Every Women Counts. This program provides free screenings and mammograms to  underserved women in California. Our bill passed the Assembly Floor with an unanimous vote but was stopped by the Senate Transportation Committee who referred it back to rules and it has sat there ever since.

Senator Mark DeSaulnier is the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and is the one responsible for not allowing this bill to be heard by the Senate Floor. Mark DeSaulnier allowed the Legacy Plate, not only to be heard by Senate, but he also approved it himself. The Senator will tell you the Legacy Plate is being "reissued". If it is reissued then why did a new bill (AB 1658) need to be authored and introduced? If colored background causes a "readability issue" (that was Sen. DeSaulnier's reason for not allowing AB49 to be heard) why "reissue" plates that pose the same potential problem?  We don't understand how Sen. Desaulnier can pass one bill but not allow a very similar bill to not even be heard. Is it because it is a women's issue? Is it because he was endorsing a similar named plate called PinkDotPlate at the same time he was supposedly giving our pink plate a fair chance? We have fought this battle with our Senator now for 2 years.  Some of us are still fighting our breast cancer and will be for the rest of our lives (2 of the women have Stage IV). We don't plan to give up the fight for a breast cancer awareness plate - just  like we will continue to fight our cancer battle.

We currently have over 7,000 supporters signed up and waiting for their pink plate to become a reality. We would love help in getting our message out there. If a new retro-plate is acceptable why not a plate that brings breast cancer awareness and support to the forefront throughout our state? An even bigger question is - Why can Sen. DeSaulnier pick and choose what plates can be made? He will tell you he is "submitting legislation to form a committee to study all new plates".  Why now?  Why choose AB49 to suddenly make a stand? Could it be that the four breast cancer survivors who started this campaign don't have any political clout?  If Sen. DeSaulnier doesn't support this breast cancer awareness plate, so be it, but at least allow other State Senators who DO support women's issues the chance to vote on it. 

He needs to know -  Senator Mark DeSaulnier you need to put your double-standards behind you and support AB49 - CA Pink Plate. Our state cares about and supports breast cancer awareness!!