Thread: TN business groups oppose English-only driver's testing

TN business groups oppose English-only driver's testing
Four big Chambers of Commerce in state fight bill
By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • April 8, 2010

Comments (221)

Business groups are lining up to oppose legislation that would require testing potential drivers in English only, and the organization behind the legislation is fighting back with a pressure campaign aimed at Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Inc.




The Chambers of Commerce in the state's four biggest cities said in a letter sent to lawmakers Wednesday that a bill that would require drivers' exams to be given in English "sends a powerful and negative message that our state — and our cities, as engines of the state's economy — are unwelcoming to foreign investment" and could drive people away from Tennessee.
The letter, which was signed by the chief executives of the Chambers of Commerce in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis, comes as the bill has begun to move swiftly through the legislature, clearing the transportation committees in the state Senate and House of Representatives.
The move represents the first coordinated move by the business community to oppose the bill as the battle over the place of English in Tennessee government once again escalates.
Related
Guest editorial: English-only is the law
Guest editorial: Driver bill faulty, motives dishonest
Reader views on English-only
Other countries' policies could inform state approach on English
Editorial: English-only goes statewide
English-only push resurfaces
4/11/09: Virginia group bankrolled Nashville English-only initiative
"It's obvious that it has more traction this year," said Ralph Schulz, chief executive of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. "Rather than stand on the sidelines, we felt like we owed it to legislators to give them the perspective of our business communities."
The measure's sponsor, Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, did not respond Wednesday to a request for comment. But one recipient of the letter from business leaders, Rep. Glen Casada, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, said Watson would try to resolve business groups' concerns.
"We'll work with our business community friends and try to come up with something that's palatable to everybody," Casada said. "But road safety is first and foremost."

Meanwhile, one of the bill's main backers, Arlington, Va.-based ProEnglish, has called on its supporters to pressure the U.S. arm of Japan-based Bridgestone to stop lobbying against the legislation.




The group has singled out Bridgestone Americas because the company did not back off its opposition to the bill after it was amended to let foreign nationals in the country on business visas take their driver's test in any language, said Eddie V. Garcia, a Nashville musician and member of ProEnglish's advisory board
"Bridgestone is the only company that has been actively trying to kill that safety legislation," said Garcia, who posted the call to action on ProEnglish's Web site last week.
ProEnglish returns
The debate over English-only driver's tests represents the re-emergence of ProEnglish in Tennessee politics.
Related
Guest editorial: English-only is the law
Guest editorial: Driver bill faulty, motives dishonest
Reader views on English-only
Other countries' policies could inform state approach on English
Editorial: English-only goes statewide
English-only push resurfaces
4/11/09: Virginia group bankrolled Nashville English-only initiative
The group provided more than 90 percent of funding for the Nashville English First campaign last year to make English the city's official language. Local voters rejected the initiative by 13 percentage points.
ProEnglish is tied to organizations that have been labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups. Officials at ProEnglish and its sister organizations say the label is an unfair smear.
ProEnglish's latest call to action urges supporters to call the company's chief spokeswoman, Christine Karbowiak.
Karbowiak declined to comment directly on the campaign, but she said in a statement that the company remains concerned about the legislation and its potential impact on investment in Tennessee.
"We believe that full and robust discussion of matters before our legislature is healthy and at the core of our values as a nation," Karbowiak said.
The Chambers of Commerce were already working on their letter when ProEnglish launched its campaign, Schulz said. But he added that the pressure tactics show state residents are not behind English-only efforts.

"An external group from Virginia has decided to insert themselves into our community and target Bridgestone," he said. "That's just interloping."




In their letter, the chambers said English-only driver's exams would run counter to practices in 44 other states. Tennessee would lose international investment to those
states if the bill passes, they said.
Business leaders also said there is no evidence that not being able to read English causes accidents. Garcia said that's because police do not collect data on language proficiency at accident sites.
Supporters of English-only driver's tests say exams in other languages present a danger because they allow people who have little or no comprehension of written English onto the roads.
Related
Guest editorial: English-only is the law
Guest editorial: Driver bill faulty, motives dishonest
Reader views on English-only
Other countries' policies could inform state approach on English
Editorial: English-only goes statewide
English-only push resurfaces
4/11/09: Virginia group bankrolled Nashville English-only initiative
While common signs, like those telling drivers to stop or yield, have been standardized internationally, the group fears that drivers may not be able to understand more complicated signs, which are usually written in English without any international symbols, Garcia said.
"We're talking about signs that are written in a specific language that say bridge temporarily out or slippery when wet," Garcia said. "We're not talking about a triangle sign or a hexagonal sign. Even a kindergartener knows those."
But Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said he believes support for the bill has little to do with improving safety.
"I think the public thinks this is targeted at illegal immigrants, and we should be trying to stop illegal immigrants from driving," he said. "But this bill is actually targeted at legal immigrants. We need to make sure we're accommodating these foreign companies that are putting so much money in our state."
Chas Sisk at 615-259-8283



http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100 ... +s+testing

There are too many special interests in Tennessee, including foreign businesses and the Chamber of Commerce, who meddle in things for their benefit, forget the best for Tennessee. Eric Watson should stay strong, and tell the businesses that they must inform their employees that English is necessary to protect Tennesseans, and worthwhile for business operations in the United States. Businesses should offer the English classes, not taxpayers.

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Bridgestone is a Japanese company. I seriously doubt Japan has a driver's test in any thing other than Japanese.

Originally Posted by magyart

Bridgestone is a Japanese company. I seriously doubt Japan has a driver's test in any thing other than Japanese.

They have a lot of Toyota's for sale so they need all the driver's they can get.

Dixie

I once worked for a Japanese company. Everyone they sent over to work spoke almost perfect English - and so did their wives and most of their school-aged children. Let's face it. Those that don't speak English in Tennessee are poor, uneducated and taking jobs from Americans. Any corporation that wants to do business will have employees that are prepared to work effectively in the U.S.

Originally Posted by magyart

Bridgestone is a Japanese company. I seriously doubt Japan has a driver's test in any thing other than Japanese.

Here's a link o their "investor's relations" web page. Pls swnd tem an email protesting their opposition to the English only DL test.