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Bills seek to make English official Pa. language

Scott Perry website

Bills seek to make English official Pa. language

HARRISBURG -- It's a hot political issue that divides the state's conservatives from liberals, rural residents from multicultural urbanites, and people whose main language is English -- that is, most Pennsylvanians -- from those who speak it only as a second language, with Spanish usually the first.

Two bills have been introduced in the Legislature to make English the "official" language of the Keystone State, meaning there no longer would be any state government pamphlets or publications printed in any other language.

"This is our country, our culture, our lifestyle and our language," Rep. Scott Perry, R-York, said. "If our language doesn't suit you, no one forced you to come here and no one is forcing you to stay."

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The bills also could mean decreased state funding for English-as-a-Second-Language programs, used to teach English to foreign-born immigrants and their children. It also could prevent truckers who don't speak English from getting a commercial driving license and driving their heavy rigs down state highways where they can't read the road signs.

"How safe do you feel knowing you are driving your vehicle at 60 mph next to individuals operating vehicles up to 40 tons who have been licensed with minimal standards of English proficiency?" Mr. Perry asked the House State Government Committee on Wednesday.

He has sponsored House Bill 888, which -- along with House Bill 361 by Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon -- would make English the official language in the state and prevent state funds being used for bilingual publications.

Some Republican legislators said it's a waste of taxpayers' money to print government documents in languages other than English. They said 29 languages other than English are spoken in the state, with most non-English speakers using Spanish, but many others speaking one of several dialects from China, the Philippines or other Asian languages, plus Russian, German, French or Italian.

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"If you want to be part of our society, learn our language," Mr. Perry said. "I question the state's right to force its taxpayers to subsidize ... elevated teaching costs and other elevation taxation costs ... for the sake of a minority of individuals" who don't speak English.

Ms. Swanger rebutted criticism that her bill was "prejudicial or racist," adding that it "will encourage immigrants to learn English, help them get jobs and reduce their dependence on welfare."

Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford, held up a state-funded pamphlet that read "El Capitolio de Pennsylvania -- Un Recorrido Guiada por si Mismo," which is given to Spanish-speaking visitors to the Capitol. It's the equivalent of an English pamphlet called "The Pennsylvania Capitol -- A Self-Guided Tour."

"How much will we be [saving] taxpayers to print these state documents only in English?" Mr. Roae asked, but no one could answer.

"We have boxes and boxes of them," a Capitol tour guide said later, referring to the Spanish pamphlets, also questioning why one foreign language is singled out for a special pamphlet.

Bilingual ballots, required by the federal government, won't be affected by the state legislation, but Mr. Roae said Cuyahoga County, Ohio, will spend an additional $100,000 in 2012 by having to print ballots in Spanish as well as English, an expense he questioned. He said Oklahoma expects to save $50,000 by printing drivers license tests in English only.

Suzanne Bibby of a Washington, D.C.-based group called ProEnglish, supported the bills and said 31 other states have already made English their official state language.

She said that in Texas, which isn't one of them, one man testified in Spanish before a legislative committee, which forced the panel to hire a translator to let members know what the man was saying. She said such costs to the public shouldn't be allowed.

Before the hearing began, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, called for a moment of silence for "a great patriot," former Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant owner Joey Vento, who died in August. He drew national publicity in 2006 when he put up signs requiring customers make their orders only in English and no other language.

But Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, and others, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, strongly opposed the English-only bills.

Ms. Josephs said she has a person on her staff in Philadelphia who speaks Russian and has helped constituents who only speak Russian. She said she sends out emails and letters in Spanish to constituents who don't speak English.

Under the bills, a legislator wouldn't be able to hire a staffer who speaks only Spanish or another foreign tongue or be able to send out state-funded information in another language. Ms. Josephs said that will hurt her ability to serve her inner-city constituents, many of whom speak mainly Spanish or Chinese.

"Buenos dias, gracias," she said to Ms. Bibby, irking Mr. Metcalfe, who cut her off from asking too many questions.

Community Legal Services said it has 18,000 low-income clients in Philadelphia, many of whom aren't proficient in English. It said that for state and local governments "to operate effectively, they must be available and accessible to all persons, regardless of how well they speak English." They need to have "public information and public services" explained in their own language.

Anne O'Callaghan of a Philadelphia tourist group called the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, also opposed the bills, saying they would make Pennsylvania unfriendly to visitors and tourists and cost the state much money in lost tourist revenue.

She also said the bills would open Pennsylvania up to lawsuits in federal court, but Ms. Bibby said such suits in other states have been defeated.

The English-only measures are due to be discussed by the House when it resumes work Sept. 26.

First Published: September 15, 2011, 8:00 a.m.

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"If you want to be part of our society, learn our language," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-York.  (Scott Perry website)
Scott Perry website
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