King: Official English Wins,
All Iowans Benefit
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
By Representative Steve King
Washington, D.C. —Congressman Steve King today joined Iowans in celebrating the victory of the state’s English Language Reaffirmation Act that made English the official language of Iowa in 2002.
Opponents of the law did not file an appeal to a state court Judge’s ruling to uphold the Official English law. King and nine other Iowans, including County Auditors, filed their successful lawsuit to ensure the law was respected and followed by the Iowa State government. King’s victory was finalized when Secretary of State Mauro decided not to appeal the decision.
The English Language Reaffirmation Act, written by then-Senator King, passed the State Legislature in early 2002 and was signed by Governor Vilsack. Despite the passage of the official English law that requires all official documents to be printed in English, the Iowa Secretary of State continued to produce voter registration forms in foreign languages. The Secretary of State’s office argued that it has a right to produce voter registration forms in the Spanish, Vietnamese, Laotian and Bosnian languages.
“Iowa’s official language is English. Our state law and the courts could not be more clear. Governor Culver and Secretary Mauro tried to subvert the law, but the Court put them back in their place- they are sworn to uphold the law, not act above it.”
“All Iowans benefit from this victory for our official English law. We now can be united in our government work by one language. The English language unites us as a state and as a nation. Some forget that our national motto is E Pluribis Unum – out of many, one.”
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