> Florida House votes to put President Trump’s name on Palm Beach County airport

Florida lawmakers on Tuesday moved closer to placing President Donald Trump’s name on the Palm Beach International Airport despite turbulence over state funding, trademarking rights and his personal conduct.

The Republican-controlled House voted 81-30 in support of the name change to President Donald J. Trump International Airport (HB 919) as a similar measure moved to the Senate floor after clearing the Rules Committee (SB 706).

“This is the President’s hometown, he lives five miles away from the airport,” said bill co-sponsor Rep. Meg Weinberger, R-Palm Beach Gardens.

St. Augustine Republican Kim Kendall, a former air traffic controller who also co-sponsored the bill, said Trump deserves the recognition for airport infrastructure investments his administration has made in the past year to modernize facilities.

And Stuart Republican Rep. John Snyder said, “With the renaming of this bill, after we all vote yes, it will officially become a great airport.”

Democrats, naturally, screeched and raged.

The Republican-controlled Senate Rules Committee voted a short time earlier along party lines to support the name change.

The Senate proposal comes as the chamber’s budget bill released Friday included $2.75 million to cover the cost of changing signs and other items across the West Palm Beach complex that annually handles around 8.6 million passengers.

Melbourne Republican Sen. Debbie Mayfield, who sponsored the Senate bill, last Thursday submitted the funding request that asked for $5.5 million.

Included in Mayfield’s funding request was $250,000 for rebranding consultants involving overhead announcements, emergency messaging and telephone system updates. Another $250,000 is sought to rebrand equipment, vehicles, marketing materials and uniforms.

“The airport will need resources to complete the renaming,” Mayfield’s funding proposal states. “In addition to signage, branding elements, and website updates, the airport will also make technology updates require, including overhead and emergency messaging systems and passenger processing systems, to ensure full and consistent implementation of the new airport name.”

The legislative proposal would give authority to the state to name the seven major commercial service airports in Florida, with the only change proposed being Palm Beach International Airport becoming Donald J. Trump International Airport.

The name change is subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and the execution of an agreement between Palm Beach County and the trademark holder authorizing the commercial use of the name Donald J. Trump International Airport.

The bill also preempts to the Legislature the naming of airports to Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County and Jacksonville International Airport.

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