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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: House Seeks to Make English Official Language House Seeks to Make English Official Language PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona House narrowly approved a proposal Thursday to ask voters next year to change the state constitution to declare English as the state's official language. The measure would also require that official government functions be conducted in English. The 31-29 vote comes nearly seven years after a similar voter-approved law making English the state's official language was overturned. The law, approved in 1988, was declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court, which ruled in 1998 that the change violated free-speech rights. Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, a staunch advocate for limiting immigration and government benefits to illegal immigrants, said record levels of immigration into the United States threaten to overwhelm assimilation in America. "(The proposal) means that no one has an inherent right to government services in another language," said Pearce, sponsor of the proposal (HCR2030). Opponents said the measure isn't so much about protecting English as it is an attack on illegal immigrants out of frustration for the nation's failed immigration policy. "Being able to be bilingual, to be trilingual, is an asset," said Democratic Rep. Pete Rios of Hayden, who voted against the measure, which now moves to the Senate. Three lawmakers made their views for and against the proposal in Spanish and French. More than any other state in recent years, Arizona has been dogged by a heavy flow of illegal immigrants after the government tightened enforcement in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego during the mid-1990s. Four months ago, voters approved a law that denies some government benefits to illegal immigrants. Frustrated Arizona lawmakers have proposed several bills this year to confront illegal immigration. Advocates for immigrants question whether the proposals would confront illegal immigration and say the problem is best left for Congress to resolve. A less stringent English proposal was approved by the Senate earlier this month and is now under consideration in the House. That proposal says government officials generally aren't required to provide services or documents in another language. The bill (SB1364) wouldn't require voter approval. Arizona is starting to get serious about this.
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#1. To: Mr Nuke Buzzcut (#0)
Its about time someone woke up.. I sent the other article to my state senator.. I think everyone should be sending these articles to their state reps as well.
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