Thread: TN: Ramsey backs exceptions for English-only drivers license

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Tennessee: Ramsey backs exceptions for English-only driver’s license tests

Thursday, March 11, 2010

By:
Andy Sher

NASHVILLE — Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the Senate speaker, said Thursday he favors a more flexible approach than a House bill that requires the written portion of all driver’s license exams be in English with no exceptions for legal immigrants and visitors such as Volkswagen and Nissan executives.

“I like the bill we passed in the Senate a couple of years ago that said driver’s license tests should be given in English unless you prove there’s a reason it shouldn’t be,â€

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English Only Bill In Tennessee Legislature

English only legislation passes a subcommittee in the Tennessee General Assembly.

It would make the state give the written part of the driver's license test only in English.

But Opponents say the bill might scare off foreign investors in the state like Volkswagen.


Representative Eric Watson from Cleveland supported the english only bill.
He says it's a public safety issue. Rep. Watson says, , "It's not an immigration issue. It's not a business issue. It's a safety issue. People that cannot read signs, don't need to be driving on the roadways."

Watson says the bill will put thousands of dollars back in the budget. J.Ed. Marston with the Chattanooga area Chamber of Commerce says it doesn't create a welcoming environment for foreign businesses. He says foreign direct investment helps our local economy grow. Marston says, "We want to shape or help to shape any legislation such that it isn't going to prevent or deter future foreign investment that creates jobs in our community."

Marston says Chattanooga's been very successful in attracting foreign businesses like Alstom and Volkswagen. He says, "An environment where, executives who may be relocating from other countries, know that they and their spouses can get driver' licenses and become a part of the community, and that's what we want. We want new people coming into our community, new business to invest and create jobs for our citizens."

Representative Watson says the governor's office hasn't been concerned about this bill, and he says it has nothing to do with Volkswagen. He says, "As far as Volkswagen, it doesn't even concern them because state law doesn't even allow them to take tests in German. It's just Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and English" He says last year, Tennessee spent more than a million dollars on court translators for both licensed and un-licensed drivers... Plus 64 thousand on Spanish guides. Watson says Tennessee shouldn't pick up the tab. He says, "Bottom line is if you have to take a test in a foreign language to drive on the streets, that tells one thing, that you can't read English."

In Chattanooga, Mandy Odom, WDEF News 12.
The bill still has to go before the full house.

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http://www.wdef.com/news/english_only_b ... re/03/2010

Psalm 91

Quote:
"Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, a Bradley County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant, is sponsoring the bill that stops the written portion of driver’s license exams be provided only in English. The driving portion of the test is already conducted entirely in English.

"The issue is one of safety, Rep. Watson argued.

"'This bill is going to put thousands of tax dollars back into our budget,â€

[quote]“So if you’re here with a foreign embassy, you’re here on a visa and you need to get that, that’s one thing. But if you’re here illegally, then you shouldn’t be able to do that. So the bill we (Senate) passed a year or so ago and (that) never passed the House, I think, is the way to go — not just a blanket statement.â€