I don't know that this sort of thing surprises me anymore...

On Monday, GOP lawmakers announced a united House-Senate effort to — let’s say it — blackmail the state of Florida into permitting vanity car tags that honor University of Georgia alumni.

Otherwise, lawmakers said, they’ll yank the Gator tags just won by an Atlanta group of University of Florida grads from the state Department of Revenue.

House Minority Whip Barry Fleming (R-Harlem), who just happens to be running for Congress and requires support from Athens, is pitching the bill.

Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said he is eager to get hold of the legislation and ram it through his chamber.