While a public opinion poll conducted last month shows that a majority of Floridians do not support updating changes in the state from the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” that was of little concern to the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday.
The committee voted along party lines to advance two proposals making that change into both state law and state agencies. Both measures will now head to the entire House for floor votes.
First up was a proposal (HB 575) sponsored by Brevard County Republican Tyler Sirois that would align Florida statutes with President Trump’s executive order last month to replace all references to the “Gulf of Mexico” with the “Gulf of America.”
In response, Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani initially offered an amendment renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of Endor,” referring to a fictional moon depicted in the Star Wars universe, which she withdrew shortly afterward.
Miami-Dade County Democrat Dotie Joseph said a better alternative would be Chactemal, which she says was the Gulf’s original name before the Spanish renamed it the Gulf of Mexico.
Another proposal moved forward by the committee is sponsored by Miami-Dade Republican Rep. Juan Porras (HB 549) and would require state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of “Gulf of America” on or after July 1.
Porras acknowledged that if the next elected president opts to repeal Trump’s executive order, “then I imagine there would have to be some statute to reflect the name change as well.”
Jacksonville Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon called the labeling change a form of “institutionalized racism.”
GOP Rep. Wyman Duggan argued it isn’t an anomaly for geographic regions to be renamed, citing examples like East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh, Rhodesia becoming Zimbabwe, and Ceylon becoming Sri Lanka. “This isn’t out of the historical norm. It’s consistent with federal law,” he said. “If it changes in the future, it can change again. I don’t understand all the angst.”
Both measures have companion bills in the Senate that still have committee stops before reaching the floor of that chamber for a final up or down vote.
–Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
Pogo says
@Goddamn morons.
Period.
Thomas Hutson says
As Brother Gump would say Stupid is as Stupid Does!
Rick G says
What a waste of time…. appeasing little Donnie…. This is what happens Florida when you continue to vote these sycophants into office.
Michael D says
Golf of AMERICA Is the best name, because the UNITED STATES have taken care of Mexico for a very long time. Mexico is one standard that is to take advantage of the United States. America Take’s care of the southern border. Yo Quiero Taco Bell.
justbob says
Tough shit. Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico…so there.
Just Saying says
Anything to waste additional taxpayers money as a ridiculous ploy to kiss big orange’s ass. I’m surprised that these ass kissing idiots didn’t change it to the Gulf of Trump instead. How much will this cost? What will they do later when gets a whim and he choses a different name for it. He already owns Florida, how much more homage do they want to pay to him. Maybe he will trade Florida for a Trump Tower in Moscow?
Deborah Coffey says
And, we’re paying these jerks to waste time on nonsense like this….
Pierre Tristam says
I don’t know how raping can be confused with “taking care of” but whatever. In trumpistan rape is often confused with caring.
celia pugliese says
Pathetic idiocy! When until 1848 1/3 of our USA was also Mexico territory….I do not denied is in better hands, ours now…but at least leave the Gulf as is now. Is a historical name. Don’t we have more pressing issues to address and spend our hard earned taxes on?
Sherry says
@michael d. . . “Precisely” how has the “United States taken care of Mexico for a very long time”? (Other then in the mind of trump). Credentialled facts only, please.
Endless dark money says
Racist ignorant morons but hey stupid ppl usually dont realize they are stupid. The rcons capitalize on stupidity hence let’s dismantle edumacatuin and have a forced recessiun ! Cause they straight up evil ! Hope they are burning in hell soon!!!
Golf of murikkka?
Skibum says
Can we just rename the State of Florida to the State of Flatulence?
Julie says
Just because DT says it’s so, doesn’t mean the rest of the world will recognize the new name. Bought my Gulf of Mexico shirt last week.
hjc says
How about helping out with the home insurance costs.
The dude says
It is, and has always been just “the Gulf” to me.
I refuse to call it anything else. Especially just to appease the diaper don.
Tired of it says
Michael D. Can’t understand your incoherent comment, however, it appears you are not concerned with the rising prices on groceries/gas/ prescription drugs/home insurance and so many more things that are a great deal more important to all Americans than this silly diversion. I am still waiting for the healthcare plan he promised. I continue to be amazed at how easily his cult followers can be distracted from important issues.
Rocket man says
Gulf of Space X Debris. Done.
Foxtrot Delta Tango! in Palm Coast says
@ Michael D – you are the epitome of a Mango Mussolini supporter. “Golf” of America? Yeah, that’s about all 40-flocker is worth, golfing while the country simmers on the edge of another “Uncivil” War. Clearly you didn’t ace the English portion of the SAT’s. Or did you even graduate high school?
GULF of Mexico it is. That orange turd can’t tell the rest of the world they have to follow his ridiculous directives. Could our SCOTUS just get off their asses and do whatever it takes to clean house and restore some semblance of order? Do ANY of the GOP have enough cajones to go against him? Sickening.
Michael D says
Golf of America is the Best Name, and if you disagree than that seems you stand for Mexico, instead of the Country you live in: The United States of AMERICA.
Michael D says
You all live in the United States of America and the best for our Country is to change the name to Golf of America. If you want to Leave the name, Golf of Mexico than move there and see how FREE you will be.
Deborah Coffey says
@Michael D…just so you know…
“The U.S. is Mexico’s largest trading partner, and Mexico is the U.S.’s largest trading partner, with a significant amount of trade and investment flowing between the two countries. Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. has made it a key location for manufacturing and nearshoring, where companies relocate production to take advantage of lower labor costs and proximity to the U.S. market.” AI
Marko says
Just so you all know…Latinos consider themselves American and think it arrogant that we from the USA call ourselves American. They are American too. Latin American, Central American, South American. Maybe we should travel more and take cruises less?
Skibum says
You are exactly right, Marco. There is no “American” passport. Despite the fact that most of us here refer to ourselves incorrectly as “American” citizens, I would wager a huge bet that if people here were shown a large poster with various countries from North, Central and South America on it including the United States and asked to point to “America”, almost everyone living here would immediately point to U.S.A. while not identifying all of the remaining countries as being part of America as well.
Nancy N. says
Just further evidence (not that we needed it) that the Republican state legislature considers their #1 job to be doing Trump’s bidding, not serving their constituents’ needs.
Golf this says
Golf of murikkka is a distraction from the theft of your government! Enjoy the collapse morons!
You lose says
It’s probably gonna cost 10x as much to undo all of the orange stains treasons. And will take decades if ever to gain back any faith or trust.
Kennan says
What a waste of time and resources. i’m from DC. Seen it all. politics has always been a little contentious at times and could evolve into a food fight, but I never remembered it being quite this stupid. We used to fight about issues. Issues that affected someone one way or another, but this? I honestly think if we took middle schoolers and taught them about the three branches of government over the summer by next fall they could run the country better than these fools.
The dumbest of times says
We live in the stupidest of times.
Idiocracy was humanity’s Minority Report.
We are doomed as a species and as a planet.
All of this is a distraction. Climate change is here. Why do you think he wants Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and Gaza? Resources. Resources. Resources. Whoever controls the resources and the shipping lanes controls the world.
The world is about to undergo a massive change. In parts of this country, snow is upwards of 20” LESS. That means drought. Crops without water. Farms struggling to feed and water livestock. That will only increase prices. Once bird flu is everywhere (since they are not doing anything about it), eggs and chickens will be a luxury. When it gets into the human population, with the willingness of people accepting disinformation as fact, humans don’t stand much of a chance. Measles making a comeback. TB clusters popping up. Home owner’s insurance is becoming unaffordable. Grocery prices through the roof. I’m spending $50-$75 more per week now than I was this time last year. Gas is up. Prices of everything is increasing. The pheromones I buy for my cats increased by $10. That’s massive. Trans people under attack and for what? They make up less than 1% of the entire population. The way the right obsesses you’d think they were 99%. And then this…changing the name of a body of water. The most asinine thing I’ve ever heard of in my life.
It’s the Gulf of Mexico (let’s go back even further and call it Nahá, from the Mayans). Land was stolen from Mexico that later became US States. This entire country was stolen from Native Americans. Immigrants are the heart and soul of this country. Always have been. Always will be. My fellow white people are like a fungus. Spreading out everywhere thinking they’re the only thing that matters. Shades of white are boring. Diversity is beautiful. Giving everyone a fair shot brings out the best in everyone. Including people who don’t look like you enhances growth and possibility.
I’m ready for a timeline reset….