Ronald Reagan Day
Ronald and Nancy Reagan in California after leaving the White House
Observed byCalifornia, Wisconsin
DateFebruary 6
FrequencyAnnual

Ronald Reagan Day is a day of recognition that occurs every February 6, starting in 2011, in the state of California for Ronald Reagan, who was that state's governor from 1967 to 1975 and President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.[1]

Ronald Reagan Day has also been declared a state holiday in Wisconsin [2] and Mississippi. For the 100th anniversary of Reagan's birthday in 2011, governors in 21 states issued proclamations designating February 6 Ronald Reagan Day.[3] In 2013, 40 governors issued proclamations declaring Ronald Reagan Day in their respective states.[4]

History

As Reagan was the 33rd Governor of California and that state's only governor to become President of the United States, several of his successors proclaimed February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day in California in his honor. Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, proclaimed February 6 "Ronald Reagan Day" in both 2002[5] and 2003.[6] Davis's Republican successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, proclaimed February 6 Ronald Reagan Day in 2004,[7] 2005,[8] 2006,[9] 2007,[10] 2008,[11] 2009,[12] and 2010.[13]

Senator George Runner introduced Senate Bill 944 on February 3, 2010.[14] The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on March 24, 2010, by a 7–0 vote.[15] SB 944 was approved by the full Senate on April 8, 2010, by a 34–0 vote.[16]

After its approval in the Senate, SB 944 was sent to the Legislature's lower house, where the bill passed the Assembly Education Committee on June 16, 2010, by a 5–1 vote.[17] The bill was approved by the full Assembly on June 28, 2010, by a 66–0 vote.[18]

On July 19, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 944 into law, making Ronald Reagan Day a permanent day of special significance in California.[19][20] The bill declared the first Ronald Reagan Day to be February 6, 2011—Reagan's 100th birthday. The day is not a state holiday but is to be marked by public schools with "exercises remembering the life of Ronald Reagan, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to California."[21]

Schwarzenegger's immediate successor, Jerry Brown (who was, coincidentally, Reagan's immediate successor as Governor 36 years beforehand, and who was also the son of Pat Brown, whom Reagan defeated in the 1966 election to become governor), proclaimed Ronald Reagan Day in 2011,[22][23] as obligated by SB 944.

Legislative history

Session Short title Bill number Date introduced Senate Assembly Governor Lead author Joint author Principal co-author Co-authors
2009–10 Ronald Reagan Day SB 944 February 3, 2010 Passed the Senate 34-0 Passed the Assembly 66-0 Signed into Law by the Governor on July 19, 2010 Senator George Runner Senator Tony Strickland Assembly Member Audra Strickland

See also

References

  1. ^ Jack Dolan (July 19, 2010). "Schwarzenegger signs Ronald Reagan Day into law". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2010.
  2. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Wisconsin Statutes". Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  3. ^ 020111pr-reagandayproclamations(6).pdf Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Forty Governors Declare Feb. 6 "Ronald Reagan Day"". The Ronald Reagan Legacy Project. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  5. ^ "Governor Davis Proclaims February 6, 2002 "Ronald Reagan Day" in California". Office of the Governor. February 6, 2002. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "Governor Gray Davis California Proclamations for February 2003". Office of the Governor. February 13, 2003. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims February 6th "Ronald Reagan Day"". Office of the Governor. January 29, 2004. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012.
  8. ^ "Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims February 6th "Ronald Reagan Day" – Proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger". Office of the Governor. February 4, 2005. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims February 6, 2006 "Ronald Reagan Day"". Office of the Governor. January 20, 2006. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
  10. ^ "February 6, 2007, as "Ronald Reagan Day" – Proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger". Office of the Governor. January 26, 2007. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "February 6, 2008, as "Ronald Reagan Day" – Proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger". Office of the Governor. January 22, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  12. ^ "Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Proclamation for Ronald Reagan Day". Office of the Governor. February 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "February 6, 2010, as "Ronald Reagan Day" – Proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger". Office of the Governor. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  14. ^ "Senate Bill 944, as introduced, Runner" (PDF). California State Legislature. February 3, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2010.
  15. ^ "SB 944 – Vote Information – Senate Education Committee". California State Legislature. March 24, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010.
  16. ^ "SB 944 – Vote Information – Senate Floor". California State Legislature. April 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010.
  17. ^ "SB 944 – Vote Information – Assembly Education Committee". California State Legislature. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010.
  18. ^ "SB 944 – Vote Information – Assembly Floor". California State Legislature. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010.
  19. ^ "Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation Honoring President Ronald Reagan". Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. July 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012.
  20. ^ Radio, Southern California Public (July 28, 2010). "Schwarzenegger signs bill establishing 'Ronald Reagan Day' in California". SCPR.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  21. ^ "Senate Bill 944, Runner. Chapter 114. Statutes of 2010" (PDF). California State Legislature. July 19, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2010.
  22. ^ "Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Ronald Reagan Centennial Day". Office of Governor Jerry Brown. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012.
  23. ^ Brown, Steven E.F. (February 6, 2012). "California makes Feb. 6 'Ronald Reagan Day'". Archived from the original on February 8, 2012.

External links

Ronald Reagan
Holidays, observances, and celebrations in the United States
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