Democrats Stall Naming Airport After Reagan

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Thursday thwarted a Republican effort to rename Washington National Airport after former President Reagan, noting that the second-biggest building in town already is named after him.

Republicans have been hoping to pass a bill making the change by Reagan’s 87th birthday, Feb. 6, but Democrats used parliamentary tactics to block further consideration of the bill. The stalling strategy came after GOP lawmakers balked at a Democratic proposal to rename the Justice Department building after the late Robert F. Kennedy.

Democrats eventually dropped their request to rename the Justice Department building but complained that Republicans were refusing to consider any amendments to the bill.

Any number of Democrats would vote for the name change, but many say they question how much it would cost and the appropriate process the government should follow in naming public facilities.

They said that when debate begins on the bill, possibly as early as Tuesday, they may offer amendments to make changes at the Internal Revenue Service and establish a more regimented process for naming buildings.