Thread: Representative wants Colorado documents printed in English

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGN ... 89c01ca7bf


Representative wants Colorado documents printed in English
reported by: Anastasiya Bolton Reporter
posted by: Marissa Pasquet Web Producer

Created: 4/24/2006 10:03 PM MST - Updated: 4/25/2006 7:00 AM MST






DENVER - A state representative wants all government documents in Colorado to be printed in English.


The House State Affairs Committee will discuss the proposal Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in room 107.

Republican Representative Dave Schultheis of Colorado Springs, wants all official state documents to be in English. "I believe that's necessary, there is a tendency right now in our society to start to use two, three different kinds of languages," says Schultheis.

He says his English-only proposal will unite with a common language.

"So we can actually encourage people to learn the English language, I think for the most part, most us would tend to opt out to what our native language is, just because it's easier, but in the end, that does not help that citizen to be productive in our society," Schultheis says.

"Is it the old message of the KKK, supremacist," says Democratic Representative Val Vigil of Thornton, "a pure nation. Is that what we're all about? Where we're headed, that's not what America is all about."

"The whole issue of it is, there are some consequences we need to look at," says Vigil, "what happens when the communication, when it doesn't happen, when an emergency happens, when somebody dies, who's going be liable for it? There are humane issues that we deal with in here."

The measure has a long way to go. It will have to be approved by the majority in committee Tuesday, then two thirds of the House and the Senate will have to approve it before it can go on the ballot for voters to decide on in November.

"Is it the old message of the KKK, supremacist," says Democratic Representative Val Vigil of Thornton, "a pure nation. Is that what we're all about?

Can these idiots not discuss anything intelligently without throwing in "racist" or "white supremist" "KKK" or some such non-sensical idiotic phrase?? I guess the founding fathers would have been called the same names when they talked about English as the language of this country, huh?

http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_ ... 14434.html

Apr 25, 2006 7:37 pm US/Mountain

Panel Kills English Official Language Plan

(AP) DENVER A House committee killed a ballot proposal on Tuesday making English the official state language after opponents said they didn't need to learn English to be an American.

Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said a constitutional amendment voters approved in 1988, which requires English only on state documents, is not enforceable because it has no teeth and similar measures have been struck down by the courts.

"We don't want to become a nation that is split by a language other than English," Schultheis told the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

The committee killed the referred measure (House Concurrent Resolution 100 on a 6-5 vote.

The referred measure would have asked voters to require all state documents be printed only in English, unless other languages are required by the federal government for certain documents or for safety. The referred measure would have exempted libraries and public schools.

Rep. Fran Coleman, D-Denver, said the United States was founded as an immigrant nation and she said it was arrogant for U.S. citizens to try to tell other people what language they need to learn.

"I take great exception when you say you're only American if you speak English," she said.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1988 making English the official state language, but Gov. Roy Romer and Denver Mayor Federico Pena quickly issued executive orders directing that bilingual government information still be provided.

Schultheis said he wanted to clear up the issue by stipulating the law would apply to any printed or electronic document, publication, or other material issued by the state or any political subdivision. The previous amendment only said that English is the official state language.

Tim Schultz, director of government relations for U.S. English Inc., a public policy group that is trying to persuade other states to adopt similar measures, said Coloradans speak 123 languages, including 160,000 people who speak a language other than English or Spanish.

He said people need a common way to communicate, to call 911 for help and to pass the citizenship test, and 26 other states have adopted English as the official state language.

"Multilingual government should be the exception, not the rule," Schultz told lawmakers. "We also should not become an English optional nation."

Adrianne Benavidez, spokeswoman for the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, said laws that attempt to require people to speak English would violate civil rights.

"They foster anti-immigrant bigotry and intolerance," she told lawmakers.