The main House author of an English-only measure predicted the Senate would pass it like the House did.
Senate Bill 163, if passed, would let voters decide whether to make English the official language of state government.
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If Rep. Randy Terrill is correct, the question will be decided by voters in November. The proposed constitutional amendment would not require the governor's signature.
The House passed Senate Bill 163 by a vote of 70-28 on Wednesday.
Terrill, R-Moore, said the measure passed by a greater margin than he expected.
House members spent more time on procedural matters than on the bill itself. It passed without debate.
The bill also contains exemptions for the languages of Oklahoma's 39 federally recognized tribes and allows the use of both Braille and sign language in government services. The legislation also contains a number of other specific, narrowly tailored exceptions for things such as public health and safety, as well as trade, commerce and tourism.
George Tiger, former speaker of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council, was among about 30 people who watched House members discuss the measure.
"We do appreciate the fact that our languages are being taken into consideration,” Tiger said. "My wish is that the aggressiveness that has been shown by state government on English only would also be taken into the public school system where native languages can be learned, as well.”
House members spent about 90 minutes on procedural matters, mostly efforts by some Democrats to block the measure from being heard and an attempt by Rep. Shane Jett, R-Tecumseh, to attach an amendment. His proposal would let voters decide whether to set up an agency under the Oklahoma Tax Commission where illegal immigrants could come forward to register with the state, pay a $1,000 fine and then be allowed to become a U.S. citizen.
Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, ruled the amendment out of order.
Terrill said immigrants would enjoy the greatest benefit from an "official English” law.
"Census data shows that learning to speak English is a near guarantee that immigrants will increase their earning power,” Terrill said. "This bill will improve the lives of immigrants, foster better relations between all citizens and grow our economy.”
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Bert...Not at all, I know some rather smart Oklahomans, some are even on this forum. What I was implying, is that it seems the Legislature is not at all hesitant about letting the voting public decide rather "simple" measures. Yet, they don't have that some level of confidence on issues like abortion. I am pretty sure the voters of Oklahoma will pass an "all English language" ballot. Then when the proverbial(sp) poop hits the fan, the Legislators will point to the good people of Oklahoma and say, "don't blame us, they did it."
The really sick part is Terrill is pretending he is trying to help immigrants when I can tell you for a fact that nothing could be further from the truth.
Dennis, I guess you do not think the voters are smart enough to vote on this issue? And I would have no problem with them putting abortion on a ballot so the people could vote their desires on that issue. And yes I will vote yes on the english question
I wish when people commented, they would not write a whole book. I NEVER finish reading the extra long comments. You can make a point without writing a whole book.
It will get my vote & I am glad the people will be voting for it, so that we can speak for ourselves. Hopefully this will shut the rest up & they can concentrate on learning to speak the language here.
If there's going to be any kind of an english-only initiative, it needs to start in Stillwater. I say if anybody fails the test, they get sentenced to a life in Arkansas.
1804 focused on "illegality" of immigrants; 163 focuses on "hispanic" or "other peoples' language." Had Terrill been either truthful or accurate
that ""Census data shows that learning to speak English is a near guarantee that immigrants will increase their earning power,” and "This bill will improve the lives of immigrants, foster better relations between all citizens and grow our economy," then no exemptions would have been made to prevent the tribes from sharing in these benefits. Just being free to learn English is obviously insuffient, according to the Terrill argument, and force is needed. It is just not fair that indian tribes be denied these first class citizen benefits. We should go back and focus on the reason for 1804 and its intention to deprive those illegally in this country of benefits that should be reserved for its taxpaying citizens. There are, in point of fact, hispanic Oklahomans who are taxpaying citizens and are entitled to some of these benefits. Some of the exceptions noted in this bill are prima faciae evidence of those rightful benefits. Being against people just because they are different isn't going to bode well for a lot of other people in Oklahoma when it comes their turn at the Terrill Table. This may be the time we find out just how racist Oklahoma remains. Hate to see it codified in our Constitution where all the world can know how backward we really may be. This Constitutional Amendment re 163, it will be provided in languages other than English, right? Until it passes, it would seem to be necessary to do that. Absolutely none of these arguments was raised or answered or considered in our legislature: "It passed without debate." Wasn't that nice? No need for "translations."
like english isnt allready our national language? terrill is a waste of space and time. go back to alva randy!! they need a failed lawyer and professor. i hear they are looking for a new preacher aswell.
I think this is a wonderful idea. I am proud that our elected Oklahoma officials are finally making a stand. I will vote on this when it gets to a vote. Good Job!!!
Why, oh why is this State Legislature putting this to the vote of the people? Why not put the matter of "abortion" before the citizens as well? This is just another example of utterly ridiculous legislation.
Tribes have failed miserably at teaching their own children the language of their ancestors along with gross negligence in passing on oral traditions. Indian children of the past and current generations are loosing all their connections. So I do not understand why George Tiger is saying he wants the state government to mandate teaching of native languages in public schools when his own tribe is not teaching it to their own children. I do think that Oklahoma schools need to have a wide variety of non-English languages in their offerings. Schools should voluntarily choose a tribe in their area to sponsor and bring in story tellers and language teachers. As for English-only it is a basic protection against future lawsuits from people who are upset that they cannot find a copy of the state codes in their own language. A good example is when Asians came to the state and established Little Siagon at Classen and 25th. They didn't sue to get Oklahomas official documents and codes translated to Laotian, Korean, and Vietnamese. They were even invited into the US as refugees of war. They could have easily insisted we accomodate their languages. So why should Oklahoma jump when people who were not invited to the USA demand we translate everything ever produced by the state government since 1907 to present day. By mandating English as the official state language, it assures that land deeds, covenants, contracts, and everything else filed in a court house or government agency is in the same language of the original state constitution.
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Apr 24, 2008 at 7:16 am
it will not surprize us to see fibber coates speak out against it as it will infringe on his ability to mae money off the slave labor the criminals provide.
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that ""Census data shows that learning to speak English is a near guarantee that immigrants will increase their earning power,” and "This bill will improve the lives of immigrants, foster better relations between all citizens and grow our economy," then no exemptions would have been made to prevent the tribes from sharing in these benefits. Just being free to learn English is obviously insuffient, according to the Terrill argument, and force is needed. It is just not fair that indian tribes be denied these first class citizen benefits. We should go back and focus on the reason for 1804 and its intention to deprive those illegally in this country of benefits that should be reserved for its taxpaying citizens. There are, in point of fact, hispanic Oklahomans who are taxpaying citizens and are entitled to some of these benefits. Some of the exceptions noted in this bill are prima faciae evidence of those rightful benefits. Being against people just because they are different isn't going to bode well for a lot of other people in Oklahoma when it comes their turn at the Terrill Table. This may be the time we find out just how racist Oklahoma remains. Hate to see it codified in our Constitution where all the world can know how backward we really may be. This Constitutional Amendment re 163, it will be provided in languages other than English, right? Until it passes, it would seem to be necessary to do that. Absolutely none of these arguments was raised or answered or considered in our legislature: "It passed without debate." Wasn't that nice? No need for "translations."