Official English legislation passes House committee following tense hearing

OKLAHOMA CITY - Legislation declaring English the state's official language was approved by a House committee Wednesday following a tense hearing where officials of Oklahoma-based Indian tribes who oppose the bill were not allowed to express their views.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith was among several tribal officials who appeared before the House General Government and Transportation Committee to speak against the "official English" measure proposed by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, the author of anti-illegal immigrant legislation approved by lawmakers last year.

But the committee's chairman, Rep. Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City, rejected requests for Smith and other tribal leaders to address their concerns before the committee.

"This is not a public meeting," Liebmann said at one point.

Later, Smith attempted to speak to the committee when Rep. Jerry McPeak, D-Warner, offered a portion of his allotted debate time to the Cherokee leader.

"I'm sorry, this is not an open forum," Liebmann told Smith. Liebmann then ordered Smith to stop talking or he would have Smith forcibly removed from the crowded committee room.

Following the meeting, Smith said he had wanted to address Terrill's assertion that the "official English" measure adopts a federal government policy that encourages immigrants to assimilate into American society by speaking English.

"We've been trying to resist forced assimilation for centuries.

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