Thread: Ohio House of Rep Approves Official English Bill

http://www.us-english.org/view/465


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Ohio House of Representatives Approves Official English Bill

The Ohio House of Representatives voted today to make English the official language of the state. By a vote of 54-42, the House passed H.B. 477, marking the first time the Ohio House has approved an official English bill since 1998. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Introduced by Rep. Robert Mecklenborg, the legislation would require the use of English in the majority of state affairs. Under H.B. 477, government agencies will be required to conduct official business and proceedings in English, helping to promote English learning among immigrants. The bill contains exemptions to comply with state and federal law, as well as to protect the health and safety of Ohio residents.
“As the number of Ohioans who struggle with English grows, the government must react swiftly to ensure that these newcomers are on the road to learning English and becoming Americans,â€

Good......now just to get people to speak English.

excellent news!

Good for Ohio!
The following should be read periodically. A common language is unifying.

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...
There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
--Theodore Roosevelt, 1919