Official English legislation passes House committee following tense hearing
Official English legislation passes House committee following tense hearing
By The Associated Press
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Published: April 2, 2008
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. It's probably one of the most patronizing and paternalistic insults that I've ever heard," Smith said. "What this has become is a badge and a brand of intolerance, mean-spiritedness, close-mindedness, cold-heartedness."
Following the meeting, some Democratic committee members said Smith should have been allowed to speak.
"This is reprehensible," said
Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah. "The
House of Representatives is supposed to be a forum of free debate."
The measure is similar to one that died on the House floor last year. During debate on that bill, Smith was permitted to express his opposition to members of the same committee.
Terrill said the legislation addresses official government speech and recognizes the state's right to control the way it communicates with citizens and how citizens communicate with it. He said it carves out "generous exceptions" for American Indian languages and would not interfere with tribal language programs.
"This particular proposal is legally airtight," Terrill said.
The measure asks voters to approve a constitutional amendment requiring that all official state government business be conducted in English similar to proposals adopted by 30 other states that have made English the official language.
If approved by voters, the measure would prevent the state from having to deliver taxpayer services, such as driver's license tests, in a language other than English and avoid the cost of providing services in multiple languages by using translators and publishing state documents in various languages.
It does not impact private commerce and would not prevent the state from promoting itself in languages other than English for purposes of commerce and tourism.
But opponents said the measure could have unintended consequences and will demean people who speak other languages.
"By this legislation we're telling them we think they're lesser," McPeak said. "This is going to be another shot heard round the world that says you people are not welcome in Oklahoma."
The committee voted 11-5 to send the measure, Senate Bill 163, to the House floor for a vote.
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