Thread: State senator looks to make English ‘official’ language

http://www.mustangnews.info/site/english010407

State senator looks to make English ‘official’ language of government

By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer

A bill making English Oklahoma’s official language would likely be challenged by minority rights groups in court if it clears the Legislature, hispanic advocates say.

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson filed Senate Bill 38, which would designate English as the official language of Oklahoma government. If approved, it would mandate that no government agency, including state, county and local offices, could be required to provide services or forms in any language other than English.

However, Wilcoxson, who represents eastern Canadian County neighborhoods, said her bill wouldn’t prohibit any agency from making information or services available in other languages.

“It’s a statement, it’s not going to change much of anything … we want to make sure even in our diversity we are unified, and we know language is the major unification portion of any nation,” she said.

However leaders of several Hispanic advocacy groups are worried the bill would be divisive and would hamper non-English speakers’ ability to communicate with the government.

Sebastian Lantos, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latin American and Hispanic Affairs, said he has no problem with encouraging English, but he’s concerned Wilcoxson’s bill and other similar legislation, which have been approved in other states, could lead to the violation of non-English speakers’ civil rights.

“In this time and age, we need to think about integrating people and educating people and not isolating people any further,” he said.

According to U.S. Census data, a language other than English is spoken in 7.4 percent of Oklahoma homes, compared to 17.9 percent nationwide. Among Oklahomans, 6.3 percent of the state’s population is Hispanic and 1.5 percent is Asian, compared to 14.1 percent and 4.2 percent nationwide.

Wilcoxson said federal law which requires states to offer ballots in other languages, wouldn’t be affected by her proposed legislation, nor would it change an existing state law requiring driver license exams be offered in Spanish. She said she’s heard concerns from constituents that Spanish receives special consideration from the government, because more forms and information are available in the language than others.

“I’ve had Vietnamese call me and say is Spanish more important than Vietnamese,” she said.

Statistics show more than 120 different languages are spoken by Oklahoma residents, and Wilcoxson said it would be difficult for all agencies to accommodate all speakers in their native tongues.

“We are teaching English,” she said. “It will behoove people to be a part of our government and our state to learn English.”

If the Legislature considers the bill when it convenes in February, it won’t be the first time an English-only measure has received Oklahoma’s attention. Most recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled a similar petition unconstitutional in 2002, because it would have banned state funding from being spent on translating documents or providing services in other languages.

James Thomas, a University of Tulsa law professor, helped fight the 2002 petition. He said he believes if the bill passes, it will likely face an uphill battle in the courts.

“That decision by the Supreme Court in the initiative petition, it was so strong my first inclination is that the legislation would always raise a constitutional question,” he said, adding the ruling said the petition would limit free speech.

Another problem with the current shell bill, Thomas said, is its vagueness — it leaves the decision to print materials or provide information in other languages up to each agency’s discretion.

“In my own mind, I find it pretty chilling if legislation or a petition put any restrictions at all, regardless of how it’s worded, that might cut down communications with people who might not have the skill of English,” Thomas said.

Although Wilcoxson said the bill had little to do with illegal immigration within Oklahoma, David Puente, League of United Latin American Citizens Oklahoma City Council president, said he’s worried this could be the first of many “anti-immigrant” bills to surface this session. If so, he said his organization and others are prepared to rally on the Capitol steps like last spring, which drew an estimated 20,000 people.

“We are good for this state, and we are not trying to hurt nobody or take anything from anybody,” he said.
If Wilcoxson’s bill is approved, Oklahoma will join 28 other states which have adopted similar legislation, including its neighbors Missouri, Colorado, Arkansas and Louisiana.

There is also a proposal being considered by Congress.

Lantos said in many of the states which have approved similar laws, government officials cited data on the cost of translating documents and providing interpreters. He said immigrants, even those in America illegally, are taxpayers — trying to sweat out a better life for their families mostly doing manual labor.

“There is nothing wrong if they contribute,” he said.

Lantos compared the controversy to other civil rights movements, for blacks and those with disabilities and predicted the United States is headed toward a major policy change related to the way it views and treats immigrants.

“We need to think forward — it makes me want to jump into politics,” he said.
Published in Latest Headlines: January 4, 2007

State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson filed Senate Bill 38, which would designate English as the official language of Oklahoma government. If approved, it would mandate that no government agency, including state, county and local offices, could be required to provide services or forms in any language other than English.

WAY TO GO Sen. Wilcoxson!