Another reason to contribute to Paul Broun (R-GA)
By Erick Posted in 2008 — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Paul Broun and his fellow Georgia Republicans have all signed on to co-sponsor a piece of legislation that would make English the official language of the United States. The legislation:
- • Declares English as the national language of the Government of the United States.
- • States that no person has a right or entitlement to have the US Government or any official to communicate, perform or provide services, or materials in any language other than English unless specifically provided by statute.
- • If an exception is made on the use of a language other than English, the exception does not create a legal entitlement to additional services in that language or any language other than English.
This is the House parallel to Senator Inhofe's legislation.
Likewise, Congressman Broun was one of the few House Republicans to vote against legislation sponsored by Maxine Waters (!!!!!) that would expand the government's rental assistance program, increase spending for HUD without a ceiling on the spending, and allegedly create a green buildings program with unchecked costs.
Conservatives' conservatives like Hensarling, Pence, Garrett, Barrett (SC), Akin, Flake and others voted against the Waters Amendment.
Nonetheless, Barry Fleming, Broun's opponent in the Republican primary, is attacking Broun for sponsoring the English only legislation and voting against the Waters Amendment. A Repubilcan attacking another Republican for actually being conservative.
We need to help Broun hold his seat. Click here and give what you can.
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Another reason to contribute to Paul Broun (R-GA) 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
My wife was born in Mexico City because her father was in the military, stationed at the US embassy there. Therefore her original birth certificate is in Spanish. This law would appear to prevent that birth certificate from being recognized but the US government. If that is the case, this would cause utter chaos as recognition of international legal documents are essential to the rule of law. Would two US Citizens married in France be able to apply for an FHA mortgage as a couple if they can't produce an English language marriage certificate?
There is also the problem of what to do about the US territory of Puerto Rico if the use of English becomes mandatory.
Also, as an Orthodox Jew, I am sensitive to my fellow Orthodox Jews who prefer to use only Yiddish in order to avoid what they see as the dangerous aspects of secular society. While I personally support universal literacy in English, the US has always accepted the existence of isolationist minorities and left them alone. I hope this will never change.
Charlie Hall
Do you have a link to any of the Fleming attack ads? I honestly can't see anything offensive about those 3 bullet points. I mean they're not REQUIRING you to know English to live or work here, simply saying that the government isn't forced to provide services in other languages.
The only scenarios that I can think of that would actually deprive non-English-speakers of the rights of normal citizens would be where the State would not be required to provide you with a Spanish-speaking defense attorney, or possibly education of grade school children. Pragmatically, I think these would basically be non-issues though and this law would be a great motivator for people to learn English.