Tulsa World: English language bill clears House committee

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English language bill clears House committee

By Associated Press
Published: 4/2/2008 2:05 PM
Last Modified: 4/2/2008 2:05 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill to make English the official language of Oklahoma has won preliminary approval in a House committee.

The General Government and Transportation Committee voted 11-5 Wednesday to send the bill to the full House floor for debate and a vote.

Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore says the measure is needed to stop the practice of publishing state documents in multiple languages. He points to the case of two Iranian nationals who live in Bartlesville and are demanding the Oklahoma driver licenses tests be given in their native Farsi language.

Opponents argue the measure may have unintended consequences and could impact American Indian tribal language programs.

Terrill says it includes exceptions for tribal languages and wouldn't prevent the state from promoting itself in languages other than English for purposes of commerce and tourism.

By Associated Press

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	Report Comment Sean, OKC (4/2/2008 2:19:09 PM) This is moronic. Get real people we are country of immigrants. We were extremely close speaking German in this country in 1776. Basically, if I was accused of a crime in another country I would want access to English translations. I am sure Randy would too. Terrill, morons like you are the reason Oklahoma's economy is going to lag behind all the surrounding states in our region. If it weren't for the oil companies, you could stick a fork in Oklahoma's economy. Our tax revenues are down and that is with S9.00mcf/nat gas and 100/barrel oil and our rig count is up in this state.
	Report Comment GO RANDY TERRILL, (4/2/2008 2:21:40 PM) GO RANDY TERRILL AND H.B. 1804, ALSO THE ENGLISH ONLY LAW.
	Report Comment mj, Tulsa (4/2/2008 2:31:35 PM) Sean - So you don't have a problem in paying for Farsi executed driving exams? Unbelievable! What's next? Multi-lingual traffic signs? I guess you could alway petition the OTC to include a box to check off to fund non-English speakers from your tax refund but don't expect everyone else to chip in. Thanks, Randy Terrill.
	Report Comment RANDY TERRILL, IS A WORTHLESS HICK (4/2/2008 2:49:18 PM) Randy Terrill is a hillbilly moron who's been hicking up Oklahoma for too long now. Get him out of office and make sure he takes this bill with him (in the usual place).
	Report Comment Karen, (4/2/2008 2:52:58 PM) # 1 & #4 Get out of Oklahoma! Randy has spoken for the masses here and people like you are not welcome. You are the morons!
	Report Comment KAREN, IS A WORTHLESS HICK (4/2/2008 2:55:06 PM) Karen is a hillbilly moron who's been hicking up Oklahoma for too long now. Get her out of Okla and make sure she takes a copy of this bill with her (in the usual place).
	Report Comment Phil, Tulsa (4/2/2008 10:44:39 PM) #41 The real danger is massive third world immigration.Unless we stop it ...it will lead to the demise of this country and western civilization.
	Report Comment Anthony, Tulsa (4/2/2008 10:47:29 PM) BET Take a trip to an Indian casino..have a few drinks and celebrate the Indian contribution to culture.
	Report Comment Eve, Oklahoma City (5/12/2008 3:43:49 PM) I think Randy Terrill is a Ku Klux Klan member in disguise. Instead of wearing sheets over his body, he chooses suits. All he seems to care about is making minorities life a living hell.
	Report Comment ENGLISH ONLY, (4/2/2008 7:50:50 PM) Told you people the Iranian lawsuit could be a GOOD THING. It was the Iranian lawsuit that pushed the English only bill forward. Thank you Iranians for helping make English the official language of Oklahoma. Come on you Mexicans, do your thing and sue the state for something pertaining to English. Ohhhh, you know you Mexicans can come up with something. Come on now.
	Report Comment Joan, Tulsa (4/2/2008 8:59:04 PM) #29 It is costly and discourages assimilation.Randy Terrill is great.
	Report Comment Charles, Tulsa (4/2/2008 9:44:17 PM) More news from the immigration battle. not satisfied to learn our language they now sue us to use Parsi.The immigrants have come to suck America dry.The whole shuffling mob of cheap labor hustlers.Tuberculosis is one of their wonderful gifts to this country.
	Report Comment BET, Glenpool (4/2/2008 10:01:53 PM) Today is a sad day for Oklahomans. Time after time the right to express our views on this topic was denied, our democracy is gone from our government. "WE THE PEOPLE" no longer exist under the roof of Capitol Hill; it is they who rule. What happened to our dreams for a better Oklahoma - An Oklahoma that welcomes the tourist and embrases diversity? What happened to the State that belongs to the American Indian. I would say, re-claim your land, this state belongs to the Amercian Indian. Let us demand that the languages of the American Indian be re-instated and spoken at every school there is in Oklahoma. Throw Terrill out of this land.
	Report Comment yep, (4/2/2008 10:04:35 PM) This state closely resembles an island of primitive natives who worship at stone carvings and run from fire. There is about an equal degree of prejudice and hysteria. The real danger is ignorance,
	Report Comment so, (4/2/2008 10:08:32 PM) so the only problem we have is it costs money to translate the forms? wow, that's pretty lame. how about we just admit our prejudice and bigotry.
	Report Comment Norm, Tulsa (4/2/2008 5:34:44 PM) Well it seems to boil down to: when in Rome do as the Romans do. If you want to come to America speak English, if you want to come here and speak the language of your homeland do so but in your home or go back to your homeland. Iranians, Mexicans or Russians or who ever, be Americans or be gone.
	Report Comment ??, (4/2/2008 5:46:05 PM) this isn't Rome
	Report Comment 32. 4/2/2008 4:58:54 PM, ??, , (4/2/2008 6:05:58 PM) my tax money being spent on this that's whats wrong, just like bi ligual in schools, what a waste of American money.
	Report Comment To mj, Tulsa (4/2/2008 6:07:10 PM) 28. 4/2/2008 4:25:01 PM, mj, Tulsa mj - As part of TW's ongoing committment to political correctness, "illegal" is now considered a race, but "white" is not.
	Report Comment To Frank, Tulsa (4/2/2008 6:33:23 PM) Thanks, Frank. Please post that often.
	Report Comment Wagdog, Tulsa (4/2/2008 6:47:54 PM) This will be a moot point after McCain is elected and we have the McCain-Kennedy (Ted) Amnesty Bill forced upon us again.
	Report Comment mj, Tulsa (4/2/2008 4:25:01 PM) #26-(bubba) Yet another example of the TW's selective censorship policy. Anything is ok as long as it limited to anti-white.
	Report Comment Bud, Miami (4/2/2008 4:25:11 PM) I think that having an official language will assist emigrants as an incentive to acclimate to this society. We have official flowers, birds, vegetables, songs, etc., but no one proposes we can not enjoy all the ones that are not official. Welcome to America, now learn the language so you can prosper in this great state and country.
	Report Comment arby, (4/2/2008 4:27:56 PM) soryy, UU, but there are no people indigenous to the Americas- they came across the land bridge from Asia probably 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. There are no "native Americans" in spite of what the PC crowd would lead you to believe. The Inuit and other Eskimo and "Indian" peoples were probably the first to settle in the Americas, however
	Report Comment LM, Cleveland (4/2/2008 4:41:25 PM) GO RANDY TERRILL AND H.B. 1804, ALSO THE ENGLISH ONLY LAW. Better Late than never...

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