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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Celebrating Ronald Reagan's Birthday
Today is former President Ronald Reagan's birthday. He would have been 97 years old today. The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that would make today an annual holiday in that state, commemorating the birth of our 40th president.
To celebrate the occasion, I have put together a three-part video from my visit last summer to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Enjoy!
Virginia Republicans in the General Assembly have finished one chamber’s endorsement of a resolution making Feb. 6 Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia.
The Reagan Resolution sailed through the House of Delegates on Jan. 18 by a vote of 95-1.
Only Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, opposed “designating February 6, 2008 and in each succeeding year as Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia.”
The VIrginia Senate has not yet considered it, so sponsor John O’Bannon, R-Henrico County, said Tuesday that he would bring it back next year.
The Senate still can, and will, pass the resolution this year after the fact.
Sen. Dick Saslaw, a Springfield Democrat whose birthday is Feb. 5, said Tuesday that he would vote for the Reagan Resolution.
Del. Bob Brink, D-Arlington, voted for it and said with a smile that he would have liked to trade RR Day as an official day for taking the name off the former National Airport in his district.
A list of 54 GOP delegates tops the resolution as patrons. It reads:
WHEREAS, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of humble background, worked diligently throughout his life to uphold the American ideal of freedom and advancing the public good, having been employed as an entertainer, union leader, corporate spokesman, Governor of California, and President of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction for two terms as the 40th President of the United States and, during his second general election, earned the confidence of three-fifths of the electorate and was victorious in 49 of the 50 states, a record unsurpassed in the history of American presidential elections; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated president, he inherited a disillusioned nation shackled by rampant inflation and high unemployment; and
WHEREAS, during Mr. Reagan’s presidency, he worked in a bipartisan manner to enact his bold agenda of restoring accountability and common sense to government, which led to an unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Reagan’s commitment to an active social policy agenda for the nation’s children helped lower crime and drug use in our neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan’s commitment to our military not only prepared America’s armed forces to meet 21st century challenges but also helped to restore our pride in America and those values cherished by our nation and the free world; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan’s vision of “peace through strength” led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate demise of the Soviet Union, guaranteeing basic human rights for millions of people; and
WHEREAS, February 6, 2008, marks the 97th anniversary of the birth of President Ronald Reagan, a time for the citizens of the Commonwealth to reflect upon the principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride, which he championed throughout his life and public career; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate February 6, in 2008 and in each succeeding year, as Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s website.
For a look at the history of the measure, see Richmond Sunlight: http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2008/hj130/
Rick,
ReplyDeleteIt’s (almost) Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia
By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Virginia Republicans in the General Assembly have finished one chamber’s endorsement of a resolution making Feb. 6 Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia.
The Reagan Resolution sailed through the House of Delegates
on Jan. 18 by a vote of 95-1.
Only Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, opposed “designating February 6, 2008 and in each succeeding year as Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia.”
The VIrginia Senate has not yet considered it, so sponsor John O’Bannon, R-Henrico County, said Tuesday that he would bring it back next year.
The Senate still can, and will, pass the resolution this year after the fact.
Sen. Dick Saslaw, a Springfield Democrat whose birthday is Feb. 5, said Tuesday that he would vote for the Reagan Resolution.
Del. Bob Brink, D-Arlington, voted for it and said with a smile that he would have liked to trade RR Day as an official day for taking the name off the former National Airport in his district.
A list of 54 GOP delegates tops the resolution as patrons. It reads:
WHEREAS, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of humble background, worked diligently throughout his life to uphold the American ideal of freedom and advancing the public good, having been employed as an entertainer, union leader, corporate spokesman, Governor of California, and President of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction for two terms as the 40th President of the United States and, during his second general election, earned the confidence of three-fifths of the electorate and was victorious in 49 of the 50 states, a record unsurpassed in the history of American presidential elections; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated president, he inherited a disillusioned nation shackled by rampant inflation and high unemployment; and
WHEREAS, during Mr. Reagan’s presidency, he worked in a bipartisan manner to enact his bold agenda of restoring accountability and common sense to government, which led to an unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Reagan’s commitment to an active social policy agenda for the nation’s children helped lower crime and drug use in our neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan’s commitment to our military not only prepared America’s armed forces to meet 21st century challenges but also helped to restore our pride in America and those values cherished by our nation and the free world; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan’s vision of “peace through strength” led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate demise of the Soviet Union, guaranteeing basic human rights for millions of people; and
WHEREAS, February 6, 2008, marks the 97th anniversary of the birth of President Ronald Reagan, a time for the citizens of the Commonwealth to reflect upon the principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride, which he championed throughout his life and public career; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate February 6, in 2008 and in each succeeding year, as Ronald Reagan Day in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s website.
For a look at the history of the measure, see Richmond Sunlight: http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2008/hj130/
Posted by Bob Gibson on 02/06 at 08:42 AM
Well, that's good to know!
ReplyDeleteThe D.C. media have, for some reason, covered only the bill in the Maryland General Assembly with any consistency.
Perhaps that's because the idea of Maryland legislators honoring Reagan is a bit like PETA honoring Burger King. It's news because it's so unexpected.