Mount Reagan? It's a Step Closer in Congress

Ronald Reagan has a long list of highways, buildings, and even airports named in his honor across the US, but no official mountain. Today, however, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a measure by Nevada Republican Joe Heck to rename a part of Frenchman Mountain outside Vegas "Mount Reagan," reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The legislation is expected to clear the full House, though as of now, Harry Reid—who represents Nevada, of course—isn't expected to bring it up for a vote in the Senate.

The AP takes note of some Democratic ribbing endured by Heck during today's vote. Pete DeFazio suggested that Reagan's name be attached to Yucca Mountain instead because the move to make Yucca a repository for nuclear waste sped up under Reagan. "If we were going to name something after the president, it ought to be something that actually had to do with the president's service in office, and something the president supported that was extraordinarily significant to the state of Nevada," he argued. His amendment failed. And Jared Huffman suggested going a step further and naming the planet after Reagan, because Republicans might then take global warming more seriously. "If the gentleman would introduce legislation, I would guarantee that he'll have a hearing on that bill," responded Republican Doc Hastings. (More Ronald Reagan stories.)