Michigan House: Make English our official language

LANSING – With no warning, Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday added a bill that makes English the official state language to their agenda and passed the mandate on a mostly party-line vote.

“I think this is a great day,” said state Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, who reminisced about his father who was fluent in both French and Spanish and advocated for learning the language of the countries he visited. “We’re not stepping on toes. We’re not turning people away. We’re simply saying English is our common language.”

But Democrats decried the legislation as a way to widen the political divides in the state’s population and send the message to immigrants that they’re not welcome in Michigan.

“This is a fundamentally wrongheaded and exclusionary effort. It excludes people who are deaf and who use sign language and people who are immigrants,” said Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids. “If we start signaling that we shun differences, this is a dark moment for our republic.”

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The bill — HB 4053 — requires that English be the official language used in all public documents and in all public meetings. The policy does not prohibit state departments from translating official documents to languages other than English, but requires that the original document be filed in English. Similar policies have been adopted in 32 other states.

Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, a candidate for the state Senate and the sponsor of the bill, said it simply codifies into law what is already being practiced in Michigan.

“Are we so divided that we can’t get 55 people to acknowledge that English is the fundamental language of this state?” he said. “Diversity with no shared values drives us deeper into our different corners and silos.”

And Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Williams Township, characterized the bill as one full of compassion.

“It doesn’t make sense for Americans to change, (immigrants should) change. This is a statement of compassion,” he said. “We should do everything possible to make sure all Americans have equal opportunity for success and English-proficient immigrants are more successful.”

But Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, said it was policies such as the one debated Thursday that divide people.

“This does nothing more than ostracize people and perpetuates a culture of otherness,” he said. “Do you have nothing better to do than pass a bill that will make people feel less American?”

Democrats offered amendments that ranged from the practical — changing the state’s tax structure to raise the money needed to erase everything non-English, such as the Latin on the state’s Great Seal and state flags, from the mottos that have defined Michigan — to the sarcastic. One amendment would have required that proper British English, complete with accurate punctuation, be a part of the legislation. All the amendments were gaveled down without a vote.

Barrett said the bill doesn't mean that Michigan's motto — "Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice," a Latin phrase that means, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you" — will change. The bill does not address items that are considered "terms of art," he said.

In the end, the bill passed on a 62-46 vote with four Democrats — John Chirkun of Roseville, Scott Dianda of Calumet, LaTanya Garrett of Detroit and Robert Kosowski of Westland — joining most Republicans voting for the legislation. Five Republicans — Chris Afendoulis of Grand Rapids Township, Tommy Brann of Wyoming, Tom Albert of Lowell, Martin Howrylak of Troy and Dave Maturen of Vicksburg, joined the rest of the Democrats in opposing the bill.

The bill moves to the state Senate, where Republicans hold a 27-11 majority. The legislation could easily pass if the leadership decides to take up the measure.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal