Thread: Idaho Senate passes English as official language bill

Spokane

Idaho Senate passes English-as-official-language bill

Betsy Z. Russell
Staff writer
March 7, 2007

BOISE – The Idaho Senate has voted 20-15 in favor of SB 1172, declaring English to be the official language of the state of Idaho, in a debate that took a personal turn.

“It’s not for shutting people out, but bringing people in,” Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls, lead sponsor of the bill, told the Senate. “When we speak a common language we are unified.”

Sen. Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, said quietly, “Looking around the chamber, I think I’m probably the only one that has English as a second language.” Malepeai recalled that his late father and his uncles served proudly in the U.S. military. “They spoke very, very broken English, but they were proud American Samoans,” Malepeai said.

As the immigration debate has built, Malepeai said a business posted a sign saying, “You’re in America – speak English.” “I’m not sure my parents would feel comfortable walking into a business like that,” he said. Every Idaho county does its official business in English, he noted. So does every state agency. “Is there any question that English is the official language?” he asked. Legislation declaring an official language may seem straight-forward, he said. “But the unintended consequence is that sign – you’re in America, speak English. … It hurts the spirit when you see something like that.”

Malepeai said democracy and freedom are what unifies all Americans. “That is what unifies people in this country – not the English language,” he said.

A hush fell in the Senate after Malepeai’s comments, and no one else debated the bill. Richardson, the bill’s lead sponsor, gave a brief closing debate. He said 28 states have passed laws declaring English to be the official state language. The bill requires all “transactions, proceedings, meetings or publications issued, conducted or regulated by … the state of Idaho, or any county, city or other political subdivision in this state” to be in English. It includes exceptions for matters of public health and safety, promoting tourism and economic development, non-English phrases “as part of communication otherwise in English,” and for libraries’ foreign-language materials.

“We have to be able to talk to each other,” Richardson said.

The vote was surprisingly close, for a bill that’s co-sponsored by 18 legislators, including nine senators. The bill now moves to the House.

North Idaho senators split on the bill. Here’s how they voted:

Voting in favor: Sens. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene; Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake; and Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint.

Voting against: Sens. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle; Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls; and Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow.

Hammond rose on the Senate floor to explain his vote. “I think that the actual effort to unify our country by the English language is an important thing we need to do for our country,” he said. “I’m not convinced that this bill will do anything to improve the lot of the people I represent, and for that reason, I’m voting no.”


http://www.spokesmanreview.com/break...ry.asp?ID=9073

Idaho get rid of those that oppose English as the official language. They want a dual language country which doesn't work.

“They spoke very, very broken English, but they were proud American Samoans,” Malepeai said.

English as the official language is good. when you speak the same language it is a bonding point it allows communication so assimilation can happen or else you get hypened names which shows a person is not fully vested in their new home.

Originally Posted by JadedBaztard

Spokane

Malepeai said democracy and freedom are what unifies all Americans. “That is what unifies people in this country – not the English language,” he said.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/break...ry.asp?ID=9073

How did this man get into office?????????
If you do not have the foundation of a common language, you can NEVER truly unite. What a moron!

Three cheers for Idaho!!!!

This is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

Dixie

YIPPY!! Now we have to work on the house OLIVERMYBOY!!!!!

If we get it through I'm sure gov. Butch will sign it!!!!

GO IDAHO GO IDAHO GO IDAHO

Originally Posted by olivermyboy

GO IDAHO GO IDAHO GO IDAHO

Sure raises the spirits when you win one!!
One by one will get er done!!!

God save NJ. We've got nothing but a bunch of sell outs in this state!