Proposed "Trump Highway" moved to Panhandle, bill passes committee

Remember several weeks back when State Sens. Nathan Dahm and Marty Quinn authored bills to rename a portion of Route 66 after President Trump and create Make America Great Again/Keep America Great license plates? There's some new news on those bills.

Both have had some significant changes, and both passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday.

SB1089 originally was going to name a several mile stretch of Route 66 in Ottawa County the President Donald J. Trump Highway. There was significant pushback from local elected officials who decried the effort. The location of the highway renaming has been moved from the far northeast corner of the state to the far northwest corner, to a 20-mile section of Highway 287 in Cimarron County.

ALTHOUGH.... I just noticed a potential problem with the Committee Substitute. It specifies State Highway 287 at Boise City. There is no State Highway 287 in Oklahoma. There is a U.S. Highway 287, which is the road they intended. Probably needs amending again if they want signs to actually go up.

The measure passed the Senate Transportation committee by a 5-4 vote.

The other bill authored by Dahm and Quinn originally created two new Trump campaign-themed license plates, a Make America Great Again plate and a Keep America Great plate. Sen. Dahm reports that both plates have now been combined into a single America First license plate.

SB1384 passed the Transportation committee with an 8-1 vote.

6 new counties become Second Amendment Sanctuaries, bringing total to 19

Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux started a movement among county sheriffs in Oklahoma last week when he declared his county to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. This has been a rapidly developing news story, as new counties are added with each passing day.

Since Friday, 6 new declarations were issued by county sheriffs, bringing the total of Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties up to 19. They are as follows, with links to their statements:

1. Logan County
2. Stephens County
3. Canadian County
4. Haskell County
5. Bryan County
6. Pittsburg County
7. LeFlore County
8. Cimarron County
9. Coal County
10. Cotton County
11. Kiowa County
12. Pushmataha County
13. Latimer County
14. Atoka County
15. McCurtain County
16. Major County
17. Johnston County
18. Ottawa County
19. Choctaw County

There will almost assuredly be more to join the list during this week. Additionally, I expect multiple county commisson boards to hear, or have already voted on, resolutions that support their sheriffs in this endeavor. When I get news about new counties or support resolutions by county commission boards or District Attorneys, I'll add them to the list.

Ottawa County State Rep, County Commissioners oppose renaming Rte 66 for Trump

Following a recent (and honestly, somewhat puzzling and bizarre) announcement by two Republican state senators seeking to rename a portion of Route 66 after President Trump, the local state representative announced that he and the three Ottawa County Commissioners (all Democrats) oppose the move.

The proposed route that would be named President Donald J. Trump Highway lies within Ottawa County -- which is not in the district of either proposing senator. Sen. Marty Quinn's district lies within Rogers and Mayes counties, while Sen. Dahm's district is in Tulsa County. While the senator representing Ottawa County is a Republican like the bill authors, he has not to my knowledge commented on the bill or signed on as a co-author.

Loring: Legislation to Rename Route 66 Could Negatively Impact Tourism

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Ben Loring (D-Miami) released the following statement in response to legislation filed to rename part of Historic Route 66 in House District 7 after President Donald Trump.

“I do not understand why Sen. Nathan Dahm and Sen. Marty Quinn have filed legislation that would jeopardize tourism in this part of the state and dishonor one of Oklahoma’s favorite sons,” Loring said. “This highway, from Chicago to Santa Monica, is already designated the ‘Will Rogers Highway,’ which is great for all Oklahomans. This is not at all a political issue. It is entirely an economic issue. Changing the name could have a significant negative impact on tourism in this area.

“The combination of Ottawa and Delaware Counties are number three in the State behind Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties as far as tourism dollars being spent here. Route 66 is a huge part of that.  We have the Coleman Theatre, the longest Main Street on the Mother Road, both of the two longest stretches of the original roadway and the Ku-Ku restaurant all right here on Route 66. All of the mayors whose communities would be affected and the County Commissioners join me in opposition to this idea.  This is not a political party divide.  Many Americans with strong political beliefs and foreign tourists would avoid this section of Route 66 simply because of this legislation if it goes through.  That is not fair to these communities.  Please pick another road, and I would suggest one in your own Districts.”