Members of the Sons of Italy want their own license plate to celebrate their heritage, but the measure is expected to spark a battle when it gets to the Senate floor.

Opponents say that the state has no business promoting one ethnic group over another, and the Sons of Italy is a frequent target of Columbus Day protesters.

Supporters say the license plate is simply intended to honor Italian-Americans' contributions to Colorado.

"The Italian community here is strong," said Sam Johnson, of Wheat Ridge, who spent three years collecting 3,000 signatures to petition for a bill. "I figured this would only help get the Italian community closer. This is a way of displaying our pride."

The Senate Transportation Committee voted 4-2 on Thursday to send House Bill 1120 to Appropriations with little debate.

The measure by Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, was one of three special license plate bills passed by the committee, including one to honor Korean War veterans and another for classic, collector cars.

"If you don't vote it, you'll find a horse's head in your bed," Tochtrop joked, referring to a scene from The Godfather.

But some legislators say the Italian-heritage measure is no joking matter. Sens. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, and Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, worry that the bill could set a precedent and prompt other ethnic groups to demand the same consideration.

"It's not the proper role of government to recognize one group over another," Tupa said. "In the future it could get us into legal problems based on discrimination."

Renfroe said the bill could further divide various racial groups and undermine the idea of America as the great "melting pot."

But Tochtrop and Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, said an American Indian scholars license plate already exists.

Joe Parker, president of the Sons of Italy, contends that any group could collect signatures to petition for a similar plate.

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