Bills seek to make English official Pa. language
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"If you want to be part of our society, learn our language," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-York.
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HARRISBURG -- It's a hot political issue that divides the state's conservatives from liberals, rural residents from multicultural urbanites, and people whose main language is English -- that is, most Pennsylvanians -- from those who speak it only as a second language, with Spanish usually the first.
Two bills have been introduced in the Legislature to make English the "official" language of the Keystone State, meaning there no longer would be any state government pamphlets or publications printed in any other language.
"This is our country, our culture, our lifestyle and our language," Rep. Scott Perry, R-York, said. "If our language doesn't suit you, no one forced you to come here and no one is forcing you to stay."
The bills also could mean decreased state funding for English-as-a-Second-Language programs, used to teach English to foreign-born immigrants and their children. It also could prevent truckers who don't speak English from getting a commercial driving license and driving their heavy rigs down state highways where they can't read the road signs.
"How safe do you feel knowing you are driving your vehicle at 60 mph next to individuals operating vehicles up to 40 tons who have been licensed with minimal standards of English proficiency?" Mr. Perry asked the House State Government Committee on Wednesday.
He has sponsored House Bill 888, which -- along with House Bill 361 by Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon -- would make English the official language in the state and prevent state funds being used for bilingual publications.
Some Republican legislators said it's a waste of taxpayers' money to print government documents in languages other than English. They said 29 languages other than English are spoken in the state, with most non-English speakers using Spanish, but many others speaking one of several dialects from China, the Philippines or other Asian languages, plus Russian, German, French or Italian.
"If you want to be part of our society, learn our language," Mr. Perry said. "I question the state's right to force its taxpayers to subsidize ... elevated teaching costs and other elevation taxation costs ... for the sake of a minority of individuals" who don't speak English.
First Published September 15, 2011 12:00 am
