Key minority groups are pushing Governor Vilsack to veto the bill that would designate English as Iowa’s official language. The bill would require most government documents and proceedings to be written in English. Ivan Webber, a representative for several Hispanic groups, says if the governor signs the bill, it may cost him votes in November.Governor Vilsack says he’ll only sign the bill if the legislature approves more money for English classes in schools. Webber says there’s no guarantee that money would continue once the governor approves the “English Only” bill.Webber calls the money sugar and says “you cannot put enough sugar in wormwood to change it to something other than poison.” He says there’s not amount of sugar that will make the bill go down without being poison. A spokesman for the United Steelworkers, John Campbell, says lawmakers are to blame for passing the bill, not the governor.Unions have been strong supporters of the democrat governor, and Campbell says that support would continue even if Vilsack signs the bill.He says the governor has done a lot of great things, and one issue wouldn’t kill their support, even though they disagree strongly.While minority activists want the governor to veto the bill, one of his republican rivals is calling for Vilsack to sign the bill. State representative and G-O-P gubernatorial candidate Steve Sukup has issued a statement saying polls show a majority of Iowans support the measure, and the governor should too.
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