Idaho: 77% of Residents Favor Official English Legislation

[Harold F. Schiffman]

 More Than Three-in-Four Idaho Residents Favor Official English
Legislation

    77 percent of Idaho voters support common language policy for state
                                 government

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 77 percent of
registered voters in Idaho favor making English the official language of
the state, according to a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling &
Research, Inc. The survey found that the overwhelming majority of Idaho
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 registered voters was conducted Feb. 7-9, 2007 and has a
margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

    "Americans have long called for English to be made our official
language, and the residents of Idaho are no exception," said Mauro E.
Mujica, Chairman of the Board of U.S. English, Inc. "A focus on English
acquisition is a pro- immigrant, pro-America policy that leads to
increased incomes, increased participation in society, and most important,
increased growth for residents and for the state."  According to estimates
from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 50,000 residents of Idaho were
classified as limited English proficient in 2005, more than double the
1990 figure. An examination of earnings data from the Census found that
immigrants at the lowest level of English proficiency earned almost 25
percent less than those with a slight grasp of English. Although Idaho has
not considered an official English bill in recent years, the 2006 election
season brought considerable discussion that the state and its residents
would be best served by encouraging assimilation and unity.

    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, 28 states have English
as their official language. In November 2006, Arizona became the newest
addition to the list when nearly 75 percent of the voters affirmed
Proposition 103.  "Though there remains much debate on immigration policy,
this poll demonstrates that there is no such debate on what type of
assimilation policy the Idaho legislature should advance," remarked
Mujica. "Idahoans would never want to live in an English-only state, but
they are equally opposed to an English-optional state. I look forward to
working with members of the legislature to craft a policy that benefits
all Idaho residents."

    U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan
citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the
English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen.
S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. now has more than 1.8
million members nationwide. U.S. English, Inc. can be found on the web at:
http://www.usenglish.org.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-20-2007/0004530830&EDATE=
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