State senators voted Tuesday to bar production of government documents in any language other than English, courting a possible fight with the federal government.
The proposal by Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, is specifically aimed at the brochures mailed out before every general election by the Secretary of State's Office detailing all the measures on the ballot as well as the recommendations of a commission on whether judges should be retained in office.
Even heftier booklets are sent out before the primary and general elections each year from the Citizens Clean Elections Commission which give candidates a chance to make their case to voters.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said the state can't do that. She said the National Voting Rights Act, approved by Congress in 1965, requires that all voting materials be available in both English and that of minorities.
Smith said his SB 1409 does not run afoul of that law. He noted that it would not apply to the ballots themselves but only to the other voting materials.
Anyway, Smith argued, the federal law requires only that materials in other languages be "available.'' He said Arizona can meet that requirement by putting a translated copy of the booklets on a web site and making a translated version available at a government office.
Sinema said Smith is misreading the law.
The issue goes deeper than that.
That 1965 law includes specific provisions aimed at Arizona and eight other states with a history of discrimination. That includes getting federal "preclearance'' of any changes in election laws to ensure they do not adversely affect the rights of minorities.
State Elections Director Amy Bjelland told Capitol Media Services that the Department of Justice approved Arizona's booklets, including the requirement that it be sent out in languages other than English. She said these changes, if signed into law, could not take effect without federal approval.
SB 1409 needs a final roll-call vote before going to the House.
The Senate did give final approval Tuesday to a separate measure to tighten up the provisions of a 2006 voter-ratified constitutional amendment which requires that all official government acts be done in English.
That amendment says public employees and officials can have unofficial conversations with the public in any language they want. This change, pushed by Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, says such non-English conversations can take place only when the member of the public makes a specific request.
That bill now goes to the House.
Richka posted at 1:09 pm on Wed, Mar 16, 2011.
That's good news and will save the state lots of money. Kudos for our lawmakers. It's really ridiciuous to allow non-english speaking people to vote in our elections, administer drivers license tests in foreign languages, and the biggest joke is pushing "1" for english.
When I legally immigrated years ago from Europe, I never expected the american government to cater to me. Want to live in America, learn the language. If people don't want to honor our country by learning the language, they should go back to their native country. No other country indulges in such nonsense. The same applies to schools. Non-english speakers should only be admitted after they have learned the language of our country.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:40 pm on Wed, Mar 16, 2011.
Don't you wonder what would happen if America was ever invaded by a foreign army after you read these comments from the...DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST/LIBERALS ???
These people (I wouldn't honor them by calling them ..."AMERICAN CITIZENS") are so concerned about the "RIGHTS" of others that they wouldn't defend AMERICA....because they would be worried about the "RIGHTS OF THE RUSSIAN SOLIDERS....OR..THE COMMUNIST CHINESE SOLDIERS". I honestly don't think that the word..."PATRIOTISM"...has any meaning for these DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST/LIBERALS. They don't care about...AMERICA BEING INVADED BY ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM MEXICO AND POINTS SOUTH.
They don't worry about our... WELFARE ...HEALTH CARE...SOCIAL SECURITY...EDUCATION SYSTEM....BEING DESTROYED BY ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM MEXICO AND POINTS SOUTH.
These ...DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST/LIBERALS...voted for a Black-Activist President and his "ashamed to be an American" wife to be President who tried to force his... SOCIALIST AGENDA..down America's Throat. Ask yourself, would a Citizen who loves... AMERICA... would have voted for a ....'"THE WHOLE WORLD IS A VILLAGE, OPEN BORDERS, TAX THE RICH = GIVE TO THE POOR SOCIALIST...for President who bows to the Emperor of Japan and the King of Saudi Arabia and just started putting his hand over his heart when the National Anthem is played.
No....these ...DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST/LIBERALS....don't ...LOVE AMERICA....THEY LOVE THE....WORLD VILLAGE.
Truth08 posted at 3:51 pm on Wed, Mar 16, 2011.
The Senate has now passed a bill which would cost this State Millions if passed in the House, defending it after the many lawsuits surely to follow.
This bigoted bill, is why the Federal Law was passed in 1965.
This State has many ethic minorities here. The Native American Tribes all have their languages, not to mention the Hispanic Community (1/3 of the States population), which are as American as Puerto Rico., a Spanish speaking US Territory..
How much does this State want to fleece its taxpayers with Unconstitutional Laws..?
None are needed, and almost all of them are bigoted..? So why is it necessary..?
Its because it is excepted as being the norm..
At least, Until the taxpayers have to fork up for everyone on of the lost lawsuits that Pearce and Crew have cost us..
Regards,
Truth
Richka posted at 7:10 pm on Wed, Mar 16, 2011.
Truth08...Are you for real?
First of all,, what are "ethic" minorities?
Second, how will it cost more if government material in other languagesl is eliminated? You must have meant, that there would be a huge saving.
Third, the tax payers are already being fleeced by illegals. Or don't you pay any of the taxes that provide them with free healthcare, welfare and education?
You are pretty quick thowing phraces around such as "bigoted bill" and "unconstitutional law". Let me remind you, this is America and the language is english. Assimilate or go back to where your language is spoken.
Truth08 posted at 11:20 am on Thu, Mar 17, 2011.
Surely you jest Rich..?
First off, you did not read my post..?
Secondly, where would you send the Native Americans packing..? How about the US Citizens from Puerto Rico..? Yes The US Territory that also happens to speak Spanish..?
Third, Immigrants can't vote, ONLY US Citizens can.. So you bringing up "illegals" is moot, and wrong since this article has nothing to do with that issue..?
Forth, Ethic Minorities, Like the US Citizens of Hispanic Descent, Ie.: Chicanos, Apache, Tohono Oohodam, Navaho, etc. all that may speak English but prefer to speak their native tongues.. ..........Capeesh..?
Assimilation to the region I take..? No..?
You a bigot Rich..? Do you dislike these ethic minorities from this region Rich? Who btw ARE US Citizens..?
One more thing, Immigrants do pay taxes, as they are called sales taxes, and property taxes, not to mention they pay into the SS coffers and never see a dime in return.. They cannot take or use any Services they pay into, only US Citizens can. If you have complaints with those fleecing this option from the Feds and States coffers? Please direct it at the mostly White Community, like those in the trailer parks in Apache Junction collecting these benefits. and please keep your lies down to a minimum.
The only fleecers lie within those who support dooming this State with Unconstitutional bills that will be lost in court like sb1070. Not to mention wreak havoc on the economy, like sb1070 did.. See the Chamber of Commerce letter yesterday to Russel Pearce to stop crashing our economy..
Regards,
Truth
Masterrogue666 posted at 3:13 pm on Thu, Mar 17, 2011.
Truth08: The largest group of immigrants have GERMAN ancestry. Why is it then that I don't see papers printed in English AND GERMAN?
I have no problem using my taxes going to get laws like this past because I'm tired of entitlement minded persons thinking America owes them. Whatever happened to EARNING something, like those of GERMAN ANCESTRY did? Besides, I wouldn't doubt that if needs be, people would DONATE to assist in its defense, just like SB1070 got defense funds. I still have yet to see you entitlement minded people do the same thing for your beliefs. But then, it will NEVER HAPPEN, because you want someone else to pay the bill.
It's far past time to start saying: "The buck stops here" again....
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:15 pm on Wed, Mar 30, 2011.
Leave it to "truth08" to state nothing by lies. Just like most ILLEGAL ALIEN (or INVADING FOREIGN NATIONAL, you choose), instead of keeping to the points of the debate, they attempt to insult.
This helps to prove that they really don't have a reasonable, logical argument. It's really sad that they think their feeble insults might actually find some purchase. [beam]
I mean really, trailer park? Geez, that's the best he's got? He must be very desperate to cling to something that's been used so often. Very much like claiming it's about race, when INTELLIGENT, THINKING persons know that isn't the "truth".
I guess Truth08 remembers me, since he claims we've "crossed paths". In truth, I don't recall him because his "argument" is so similar in it's powerless approach, it's nearly a carbon copy of what the majority of ILLEGAL ALIEN supporters write. One wonders if anyone in the entire group could come up with an original thought! [wink]
Truth, you go on believing making claims I live in a trailer park. Meanwhile, each month, I'll have a good laugh at your expense when I take two HOUSE rental checks to the bank from the third HOUSE that I live in. [lol]
I do come from humble beginnings, and I'm not ashamed of it either. It's because I grew up with very little that gave me the drive so to work so hard to EARN what I have today. Unfortunately, you entitlement minded people are only good at asking for things you haven't earned.....
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:18 pm on Wed, Mar 30, 2011.
Almost forgot to mention, I've never lived in a trailer park, or Apache Junction......