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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated after referring to Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay as a Republican. Although the Commission seats are non-partisan, McKinley is a registered Democrat. The post has been corrected and we regret the error.
Just because former President Donald Trump is no longer in the spotlight doesn’t mean he needs to be forgotten.
In fact, two Republicans in Ohio seek to ensure he’s never forgotten by reportedly proposing to transform his birthday, June 14th, into “Donald J. Trump Day.”
Ohio State Reps. Jon Cross and Reggie Stoltzfus proposed the idea this week in an email to their colleagues requesting co-sponsorship for the bill.
“Let’s show the 3,154,834 Ohio voters who cast their ballot to re-elect Donald J. Trump that we as a legislature recognize the accomplishments of his administration,” the two wrote, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
Of course, the holiday would only apply to Ohio, though legislators in other states could easily follow in Cross and Stoltzfus’s path.
The only problem is that June 14th is also Flag Day, and the idea of having “Donald J. Trump Day” essentially cohabitate with the 72-year-old holiday isn’t sitting well with some.
“I don’t like the idea of changing an existing federal holiday that honors the flag. I think it’s disrespectful,” state Rep. Jeff Crossman said to the Dispatch.
Granted, Crossman’s a Democrat …
Plus, it’s not as if establishing a holiday for a former president’s birthday is unusual.
“California celebrates February 6, President Ronald Reagan’s birthday, in its public schools with ‘exercises remembering the life of Ronald Reagan, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to California,'” the Dispatch noted.
But there’s more: “Ohio, along with 40 other states, also recognizes some form of Ronald Reagan Day.”
This fact suggests that establishing June 14th as “Donald J. Trump Day” wouldn’t be disrespectful but rather fitting.
Why? Because Trump has often been compared to Reagan, and so why shouldn’t he also benefit from his own day?
Trump to go down in history for what he did for GOP; on par with Lincoln and Reagan https://t.co/xHx5bxy7zv via @BIZPACReview
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) November 16, 2020
But if not a holiday, how about a highway?
In Florida last week, state Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini announced plans to sponsor an amendment to rename U.S. Highway 27 to “President Donald J. Trump Highway.”
Look:
This legislative session I will be sponsoring an amendment to rename U.S. Highway 27 as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway.” Looking forward to working on this important designation honoring one of the greatest Presidents in American History. pic.twitter.com/x2gNzv8pxv
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) January 19, 2021
This week, he added a petition as well.
“I am sponsoring legislation to rename U.S. Highway 27 as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway. Help me with this important designation honoring one of the greatest Presidents in American History,” the petition reads.
“Your petition in support of this important designation honoring one of the greatest Presidents in American History will go a long way to encourage my colleagues to enact this important legislation. Please sign your petition, below, right away. I will deliver your petition to the state legislature at the right time, to maximize the impact,” Sabatini added.
SIGN THIS PETITION BELOW👇to help me rename U.S. Highway 27 the “President Donald J. Trump Highway” in recognition of all he has done for our country!https://t.co/jI7wwMVxGL pic.twitter.com/ZvuQ7zax61
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) January 28, 2021
SIGN THIS PETITION BELOW👇to help me rename U.S. Highway 27 the “President Donald J. Trump Highway” in recognition of all he has done for our country!https://t.co/jI7wwMVxGL pic.twitter.com/D1OXSlKw2s
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) January 26, 2021
But Sabatini is facing some local pushback as one Palm Beach County commissioner said she would not back the effort.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay noted on Twitter that she would not support renaming the highway, citing state legislation. Her argument is that state legislation bars the Florida Department of Transportation from establishing an honorary road or highway without permission from every municipality through which the road or highway passes.
Look:
FYI: The Legislature addressed the transportation facility designation process during the 2003 Legislative Session, and enacted 2003-286, L.O.F., which specified the FDOT may not erect the markers for honorary road or bridge designations unless
1/3— Melissa McKinlay (@VoteMcKinlay) January 22, 2021
the affected city or county commission enacts resolution supporting designation. When designated road segment is located in more than one city or county, resolutions supporting designations must be passed by each affected local government prior to erection of markers
2/3— Melissa McKinlay (@VoteMcKinlay) January 22, 2021
US27 from the Palm Beach/Broward County line to the Palm Beach/Hendry County line is in my district. I will NOT support erecting signs @AnthonySabatini seeks. @pbcgov @Fla_Pol @pbpost https://t.co/jjhNJxs702
3/3
— Melissa McKinlay (@VoteMcKinlay) January 22, 2021
U.S. Highway 27 reportedly runs from Tallahassee to Miami, meaning it passes through multiple municipalities.
Just last year, commissioners in Miami-Dade County approved the renaming of Old Dixie Highway and West Dixie Highway to Harriet Tubman Highway.
McKinlay is nonetheless not alone in her complaints.
“My thought on that is — absolutely not,” Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz said.
“Donald Trump has been labeled, and he has proven himself to be, the worst president that the United States has ever had,” Fultz said in a far more provocative statement. “And why would I want to approve labeling the highway running through my city with the name of someone that did not respect me, the name of someone who did not respect the lives of the individuals who died during the pandemic? I would absolutely vote no on something like that.”
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