Bill to create "traditional marriage" license plates killed

A Virginia bill to authorize state license plates celebrating "traditional marriage" has been withdrawn by its sponsor, a newspaper reported Tuesday. L. Scott Lingamfelter of Prince William, a Republican member of the house of delegates, wrote to legislative leaders on Friday and asked them to strike his bill because proposed amendments to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage, which are advancing in the house and senate, achieve his aim. "We got much more than we expected," Lingamfelter said in an interview with the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger. "Those bills more than satisfy the objectives I had in mind." His proposed license plate would have depicted interlocked gold wedding bands over a Valentine-style heart above the caption "Traditional marriage." The measure passed the house 62-35 on February 1 over objections that federal courts could force the state to put dissenting views, such as "Gay marriage" or "Marriage equality," on license plates. (AP)