Poll: Official English Legislation Favored by Majority of Pennsylvanians

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Official English Legislation Favored by Majority of Pennsylvanians

More Than Three-In-Four Keystone State Voters Support Policy, According To
Poll

10/23/2006 9:20:00 AM

To: State Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Rob Toonkel of U.S. English, Inc., 202-833-0100

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- 77 percent of likely voters in
Pennsylvania favor making English the made the official language of the
state, according to a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research,
Inc., including 63 percent who strongly support such an effort. The survey
found that the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania residents want the
state to conduct business in English, including strong majorities within
each political party and each section of the state. The survey of 625
likely voters was conducted Sept. 22 to 26 and has a margin of error of
plus or minus four percent. "From the first Continental Congress to the
melting pot of the early 20th century, Pennsylvanians have always come
together under one common language, English," said Mauro E. Mujica,
chairman of U.S. English, Inc.  "As we continue another era of immigration
to the United States, the Keystone State must rely on the unifying bond of
English as the key component in the assimilation process."

Legislation to make English the official language of Pennsylvania sailed
through the House of Representatives in the Keystone State in June. The
chamber's 122-70 vote on the bill sent the measure to the Senate, which
has yet to act upon it. The House passage of the measure marked the
furthest advancement ever of an official English bill in Pennsylvania.
Making English the official language of a state calls upon the government
to conduct business in English and limit governmental multilingualism to
common-sense exceptions such as health care, public safety, judicial
proceedings and tourism. To date, 27 states have English as their official
language and H.R. 997, Congressional legislation promoting this policy at
the federal level, has become one of the most widely supported bills in
the 109th Congress.

"The Pennsylvania legislature's passage of an official English bill was
clearly in step with the will of the people," added Mujica. "The next step
is for the Senate and the governor to listen to their constituents and
adopt a common language policy for the state. I look forward to working
with these legislators to accomplish this goal in the coming months."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=74794

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