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He鈥檚 had a聽.
础听聽in Antigua and Barbuda.
础听聽in Ireland.
And lots of elementary schools 鈥� including聽, near Upper Marlboro.
There鈥檚 even a national holiday, Obama Day, in Kenya, to mark the 44th president鈥檚 2008 election (or his birth, depending on your politics).
Despite the long list of tributes to President Obama, two members of the Maryland legislature hope to add to the list.
They have introduced legislation to rename MD 210, Indian Head Highway in Prince George鈥檚 and Charles counties, President Barack Obama Highway.
The legislation,聽, is sponsored by Sens. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) and Obie Patterson (D-Prince George鈥檚).
At a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the bill this week, Ellis said Obama, the nation鈥檚 first African-American president, has a 鈥渢remendous legacy.鈥�
He鈥檚 鈥渁 person most of us believe we can be very proud of,鈥� the lawmaker added, noting that the former president won the Nobel Peace Prize and had 鈥渘o conflict鈥� in his administration.
Some members of the committee and a citizen who testified questioned the decision to rename a highway best known for聽, illegal聽听补苍诲听epic commutes聽in honor of Obama, particularly since there is no apparent connection between the former president and the road.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done every trick in the book relative to (MD) 210,鈥� said Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George鈥檚). 鈥淚鈥檓 just wondering how this is going to help to promote the image of 210, because it does not have a good reputation.鈥�
Ellis called the bill 鈥渁n opportunity to rebrand鈥� the road, adding that efforts to improve safety and ease congestion must continue. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working on a complete, holistic fix for that highway.鈥�
As drafted, SB 213 would dedicate the highway to Obama鈥檚 legacy. Ellis said he and Patterson intend to amend the bill to provide for a formal renaming of Indian Head Highway instead. That approach, he acknowledged in an interview, would be much costlier.
Simply 鈥渄edicating鈥� the highway to Obama would require approximately $12,500 from the Transportation Trust Fund, mostly for signage, according to a legislative analysis.
鈥淚f the intent of the bill is to officially rename the highway, costs increase by a significant but indeterminate amount,鈥� analysts added.
For years, Native American groups have fought to change the name of Indian Head Highway and the Town of Indian Head, in northern Charles County, calling it disrespectful.
础听聽has been launched at change.org.
The lawmakers introduced their legislation without the backing of the Prince George鈥檚 Council, which will discuss the bill for the first time next Tuesday.
Ellis also conceded that he and Patterson have not gone through the Maryland Transportation Commission process for formally renaming an existing road.
鈥淢any other renamings occurred with legislation,鈥� he told the panel, noting the General Assembly鈥檚 decision to rename the Nice Bridge in Southern Maryland the Nice-Middleton Bridge.
鈥淭his is a route that has been taken before.鈥�
bruce@marylandmatters.org
