Montgomery, Alabama, USA (AP) – Republicans of the southern states are exerting pressure so that their entities formally adopt the name of the Gulf of the United States – as President Donald Trump has appointed the Gulf of Mexico – and demand their use in maps, textbooks and accusations.
This week, the governor of Florida, Ron Desantis, promulgated two bills that require the use of “United States Gulf” in state legislation and textbooks. In March, the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, signed an executive order that indicates that state materials must reflect the name change. The Louisiana Department of Education announced an update of the State Social Studies standards to reflect the name change.
Republicans seek to consolidate the use of the new name designated by Trump, pointing out that it is a point of national pride. Some Democrats have criticized efforts as a transparent political measure.
The Chamber of Representatives of Alabama voted on Thursday 72 in favor and 26 against to advance in the bill that requires that state and local government entities and their employees use the Gulf name of the United States. It would also require that state and local entities make “reasonable efforts” to update maps, textbooks, websites and other materials. The initiative, which was approved with a vote divided into conformity with partisan lines, will now pass to Alabama Senate.
Republican representative David Standridge, sponsor of the Alabama bill, said he presented the measure to give a clear direction to government entities on what name to use. He commented that there had been confusion about what to do.
“At this time, we have an executive order that the president issued. This bill will make it clear, when you buy maps, when you buy textbooks,” Standridge said.
The Democrats criticized the measure and pointed out that it was a political gesture that will cost money and end the use of a name that has been closely linked to the southern states.
-“It’s time for us to stop doing silly things and start doing things that make us advance,” said Representative Barbara Drummond, a Mobile Democrat, during the debate.
Standridge commented that government entities would not be obliged to buy new maps and other materials, but to ensure that the new name is reflected every time they buy new materials.
A legislator questioned whether the Republicans rushed to adopt a name that could fade when Trump left the position.
“Are we going to change the name again to the Gulf of Mexico if we have another president in another four years?” Asked the representative Kenyatte Hassell, a Democrat.
Standridge acknowledged that another president could change the name, but added that he did not believe it was something likely.
“I really can’t imagine why a president would want to change the United States to Mexico,” Standridge said after the vote.
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