« Update: Make that a record high of 66 degrees / Photo | Today | Tonight: Jazz and politics take the stage »

January 8, 2008

Update: Bill would make English R.I.'s official language

A state lawmaker is proposing to make English the official language of Rhode Island.

Rep. Kenneth Carter, D-North Kingstown, said in a news release that 27 states have made it their official language. The “Rhode Island English Language Affirmation Act of 2008" would do so here.

"Official English does not mean English only,” Carter, the bill's prime sponsor, said in the statement. “None of the states with official English laws prohibit government agencies from using another language when there is a compelling public interest for doing so, such as protecting public health and safety and ensuring equality before the law.”

The bill acknowledges an individual's constitutional rights to communicate in a language other than English, according to a laymen's explanation at the end of the bill.

But Carter added that he believes "we need to encourage every citizen of this state to become more proficient in the English language" to help them "participate more fully in the economic, political and cultural activities of the state.”

The release says studies show bilingual education "actually keeps immigrant children from learning English" and that by more than 2 to 1, "immigrants themselves say the U.S. should expect new immigrants to learn English.”

The bill states that except where provided under various subsections, English would be the language of government in the state. For instance, the bill's provisions would not apply to, among other things, the teaching of languages, requirements under the federal act for people with disabilities, "actions or documents" that protect the rights of victims of crimes or criminal defendeants

Last fall, on a radio talk show, Governor Carcieri, a Republican, called for making English the state's official language while talking about his comments criticizing the provision of English-language interpreters in some state departments.

Jeff Neal, spokesman for Governor Carcieri, said he did not believe the governor has had the opportunity to review the specific language in the current bill, but that the governor "has said in the past he was interested in at least studying the concept of English only in Rhode Island state government."

At this point, key leaders in the House and Senate oppose the English-only bill. See their comments by clicking below.

-- With reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 7:00 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)