Gov. Vilsack announces Secret Plan to Reverse Official English Law

U.S. English, Inc. Chairman blasts Vilsack pledge to repeal law

“There is something particularly unseemly about the governor of Iowa telling a backroom audience in Massachusetts that he will seek the repeal of legislation he has signed,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “Governor Vilsack should as least have the cojones to inform his constituents of his ‘secret plan.’ This is a shameless act of political pandering that is beneath the governor, and is rightly condemned by Iowans.”

This is the second time the official English law Vilsack signed in 2002 has been mentioned in connection with national Democratic politics. In June, various publications reported that Vilsack was on the “short list” of consideration to be chosen as John Kerry’s running mate. At the time, some suggested that Vilsack’s support of the state law would mean grumbling from influential Hispanic leaders in the Democratic Party.

U.S. English commended Vilsack’s stand, noting that past support of similar laws had done nothing to dim the national prospects of Democratic governors like Bill Clinton. <http://www.usenglish.org/inc/news/preleases/viewRelease.asp?ID=130> Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants has publicly vowed not to allow Vilsack to undo the popular law, supported by more than four-in-five Hawkeye State residents.

Mujica continued. “Beyond the politics of this, it would be a serious mistake to turn back the clock, because the bill has done demonstrable good for Iowa. The law created a culture of empowerment, and soon after its passage, the state allocated more money for English as a Second Language Programs. A Des Moines business won a diversity award for teaching its immigrant workers English. And Iowa is one of the only states in the nation to have established a Center for New Immigrants, to help them integrate into their new country. None of this happened until after the Governor signaled to the entire state that English is a priority. Immigrants now rightly see Iowa as a place that makes it much easier for them to enjoy the American Dream. It would be tragic to imperil their aspirations so that Tom Vilsack can please a few Democratic Party bosses.”