Federal role questioned in Oklahoma's English-only debate
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BY CHRIS CASTEEL
Published: July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Oklahoma congressional delegation wants U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to explain why the Justice Department got involved in a debate by the Oklahoma Legislature this year over making English the state’s official language.



U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is seen in this July 15, 2009 AP photo. Oklahoma's congressional delegation wants Holder to explain why the Justice Department got involved in a debate by the Oklahoma Legislature this year over making English the state’s official language.


The delegation sent a letter to Holder on Tuesday questioning why his Civil Rights division sent a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson in the midst of the English-only debate reminding him that state entities receiving federal funds have to observe certain laws regarding people with limited proficiency in English.

The letter, sent by all seven members of the delegation, asks Holder to explain his department’s "overreachâ€