A BILL WHICH DECLARES ENGLISH AS IOWA’S OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. THE SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MEASURE YESTERDAY, ON AN EIGHT TO FOUR VOTE. SENATOR STEVE KING, A REPUBLICAN FROM KYRON, SAYS PUBLIC BUSINESS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH ONLY. KING SAYS IT’S NOT MEANT AS A SLAP AT IMMIGRANTS AND HE HOPESTO ADD TO THE BILL, CREATING A CENTER FOR NEW IOWANS TO HELP IMMIGRANTS. KING SAYS AN “ENGLISH ONLY” REQUIREMENT WILL HELP AVOID THE ETHNIC STRIFE THAT’S PLAGUED OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THERE’S NO COMMON LANGUAGE. SENATOR PAT DELUHERY, A DEMOCRAT FROM DAVENPORT, SAYS THE MOVE IS”HOSTILE” TOWARD IMMIGRANTS WHO DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH YET. GOVERNOR VILSACK VOTED FOR AN ENGLISH ONLY BILL LAST YEAR WHEN HE SERVED IN THE IOWA SENATE.
