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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 1998 		Contact: Tim Schultz
800/787-8216
202/833-0100

IT’S OFFICIAL: ENGLISH INITIATIVE QUALIFIES FOR ALASKA BALLOT

Alaska Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer confirmed today that she has received enough valid signatures to add to the November ballot a citizens’ initiative that would make English the official language of Alaska’s government. The signatures, which came from all 40 Alaskan election districts, far surpassed the 25,000 necessary to qualify the measure.

Ken Jacobus, a spokesman for Alaskans For a Common Language, said "The qualification process has been surprisingly easy. It’s been made possible by the 79 percent of Alaskans who are in favor of a common language. We’ve had support across the board—in all parts of the state. I think people realize that in a state with many cultures, we need a common language to keep us together."

The initiative would prevent state government from routinely functioning in multiple languages. The measure also contains common-sense exemptions, such as public health and safety information, international trade and tourism, and courtroom translations. The bill contains a specific exemption for the Native American Languages Act.

Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman/CEO of U.S.ENGLISH, the national grassroots citizens’ group dedicated to declaring English the common language, also expressed satisfaction with the results. "Our offices have been flooded with calls. People want to know how they can get involved. I want to make one thing clear: there have already been a lot of false statements made about what this initiative does and doesn’t do. It’s up to the silent majority to make their voices heard. In a state with 104 languages, a common language is common sense."

Alaskans For a Common Language is a group of Alaskan citizens who support English as the official language of Alaska. Assisting Alaskans for a Common Language, U.S.ENGLISH is a national, non-profit, non-partisan citizens action group dedicated to promoting English as the common language of the United States. The group was founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, and now has over 1.3 million members nationwide, including more than 3,000 in Alaska. Currently, 23 states have official English laws.

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