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.

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.”

Bill filed to name portion of Route 66 after Pres. Trump

Sen. Dahm and Sen. Quinn file bill to create President Donald J. Trump Highway

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, and Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, announced Tuesday they have filed Senate Bill 1089 to create the President Donald J. Trump highway on world famous Route 66.

“President Trump has done an outstanding job on behalf of our nation and Oklahoma,” Dahm said. “We feel like this is a perfect opportunity to commemorate the great impact his leadership has had on improving the economy and bringing jobs and commerce back to our great state.”

The renamed section of highway will begin at the intersection of Highland Avenue near Miami and extend north and east through Commerce to the intersection of Industrial Parkway in Ottawa County.

“Oklahoma is in the heart of America,” Quinn said. “Its conservative values of freedom, liberty and limited government are what our country was built on and has made America a strong nation and President Trump continues to fight for these values.”

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, will serve as the primary house author for the bill.

“It is an honor to have authored this legislation that will help memorialize President Trump and his contribution to keeping America free and prosperous,” said Roberts. “Many sections of our state highways are named after presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. This continues that noble tradition and honors a man who will no doubt be known in our nation’s history as one of our most famous presidents.”

SB 1089 will require that the necessary funds needed for the costs of the signs be covered by the Senate and House authors and co-authors. There will be no cost to the taxpayers for the signs. The bill will be available to be heard in the next legislative session beginning February 2020.