Latest news with #MichaelTesta


Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
War of words erupts on East Coast as locals propose renaming Delaware Bay... inspired by Trump's Gulf of America
An all-out war of words has erupted on the East Coast after a New Jersey state lawmaker announced he plans to rename the Delaware Bay to 'The Bay of New Jersey' - echoing Donald Trump 's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. Republican state Sen. Michael Testa introduced a new bill Thursday that would direct state agencies to officially change the Delaware Bay so he could 'Make New Jersey GREAT AGAIN!' The Trump supporter, who represents Cape May County, took to X on Friday to defend his bizarre idea, suggesting that New Jersians should be able to fish in a bay with its name attached to it. 'I look at the robust fishing industry - commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey,' Testa told NJ Advance Media. The body of water has held the Delaware title since 1610 when it was named after Thomas West, the third baron de la Warr and Englishman who governed the Virginia colony, per the Delaware government's website. While Testa seems excited about his pitch, many people, especially Delaware residents, are not as thrilled. One raged on Facebook: 'Fight us for it Jersey!' 'It will always be the Delaware Bay,' said another. Someone else commented: 'Jersey stay away from our bay!' Another person even took a jab at Testa himself, and said: 'Maybe the Senator needs to change his name!' 'The GOP Always Trying To Rename Bodies Of Water ... How Pathetic...,' a user wrote. Meanwhile, some New Jersey residents were on board with the plan. 'You know what hell yeah,' one wrote. 'If ya really wanna do this, I suggest a more fluid phrase... How about 'Bay of Cape May,' said someone else. 'That's ridiculous.... it should be New Jersey Bay,' a user wrote alongside a laughing emoji. Although some New Jersians stood by the proposed legislation, others were just as unhappy with Testa for his 'dumb' idea. 'Lower my homeowners taxes in New Jersey. I could care less about the bay,' one wrote. Another sarcastically said: 'Ah yes that's definitely going to solve all of our problems of barely 'We need to vote idiots out of government,' another user said. The Delaware River - a 282 mile body of water that borders New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania - empties into the bay. It is commonly used for tourism, travel and commerce. Under Testa's proposed legislation, the possible new name of the bay would be included in 'publications, signage, websites, and materials to reflect the new designation and notify relevant federal entities.' This was not the only bill Testa proposed last week, as he also suggested the Garden State should reclaim land along New Jersey's Salem County shore that is claimed by Delaware as part of a decades-old border agreement. Testa's move follows suit with Trump's executive order to have the U.S. Department of the Interior to recognize the 'Gulf of America' in government-issued materials, including maps. In May, the House of Representatives passed a bill to officially change the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.' The name change is only recognized by the US, not by other countries, including Mexico.


Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
New Jersey lawmaker proposes legislation renaming Delaware Bay to 'The Bay Of New Jersey'
A New Jersey Republican has proposed legislation to change the Delaware Bay to "The Bay of New Jersey," appearing to be inspired by President Donald Trump's executive order changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The measure, introduced Thursday by GOP state Sen. Michael Testa, would order state agencies to use "The Bay of New Jersey" in publications, signage, websites and materials to reflect the new designation and notify relevant federal entities, reported. "I look at the robust fishing industry - commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey," he told the outlet. "I think that the fact that we have to call the bay that we fish in the Delaware Bay - they've had a claim to that long enough." Testa represents Cape May County, which the bay borders. "It's time to Make New Jersey Great Again!" Testa wrote on X. The bay is a vital body of water for New Jersey tourism, commerce and travel that has had the name of its southern neighbor since 1610, according to the Delaware government's website, and was named after the third baron de la Warr, Thomas West, who governed the Virginia colony. The proposed legislation comes after Trump signed an order in January renaming the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The body of water has shared borders between the U.S. and Mexico, and Trump's order only carries authority within the U.S. Last month, U.S. House Republicans passed the Gulf of America Act, marking the first step in codifying Trump's order in the U.S. The legislation is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. Trump's order also prompted Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, to jokingly suggest amending the Long Island Sound to the "Connecticut Sound." "While the maps are changing, here's an idea," Lamont posted on X in February, tagging New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul with an altered map with the sound renamed. Another bill Testa introduced this week seeks to reclaim a slice of land along Salem County's shore claimed by Delaware in a decades-old border agreement with New Jersey, according to


New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
New Jersey lawmaker, inspired by Trump's Gulf of America, suggests new name for Delaware Bay
The Garden State should rename its historic Delaware Bay to 'The Bay of New Jersey,' a state lawmaker inspired by President Trump renaming the Gulf of America proposed in new legislation this week. The bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Michael Testa Thursday, would direct state agencies to use the term 'The Bay of New Jersey' in 'publications, signage, websites, and materials to reflect the new designation and notify relevant federal entities,' reported. 3 State Sen. Michael Testa wants to rename the Delaware Bay. Jared Larson / NY Post Design 'I look at the robust fishing industry — commercial fishing industry and recreational industry of the State of New Jersey,' Testa told the outlet. 'I think that the fact that we have to call the bay that we fish in the Delaware Bay – they've had a claim to that long enough.' 3 Republican state Sen. Michael Testa introduced a bill this week that would direct state agencies to use the term 'The Bay of New Jersey' instead of Delaware Bay if passed. ccrrogop The bay – a vital body of water for New Jersey tourism, commerce and travel – has had the name of its southern neighbor since 1610, when it was named after the third baron de la Warr, Thomas West, who governed the Virginia colony, according to the Delaware government's website. 'Make New Jersey Great Again!' Testa, a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, wrote in an X post touting the bill Friday. The proposal comes about six months after Trump famously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America – a move that led Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to jokingly suggest that the Long Island Sound be recognized as the 'Connecticut Sound.' 3 The bay – a vital body of water for New Jersey tourism, commerce and travel – has had the name of its southern neighbor since 1610. Rose Guinther – 'While the maps are changing, here's an idea,' Lamont posted on X with a map of the sound renamed, and tagged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. In a second bill introduced this week, Testa suggested that the Garden State should reclaim a slice of land located on Salem County's shoreline, which was deemed part of Delaware in a decades-old border agreement.