Statement on West Virginia legislation by U.S. English, Inc. Chairman Mauro E. Mujica

“I share the sentiments of the vast majority of West Virginians in that I am extremely disappointed in Governor Manchin’s veto. Laws that the public supports should not be stopped by supposed ‘technicalities.’ If the Governor has improvements in mind, he should demand an up or down vote in the legislature that makes those improvements. But sending the bill back to the legislature risks the same back-room tactics that have stymied this law in previous sessions.”

In 2004, legislation to make English the official language of West Virginia passed the Senate 31-3 before a parliamentary maneuver sidelined it in the House. This year, legislators attempted to bypass the logjam by inserting the measure as an amendment after it again sailed through the Senate by a better than seven-to-one margin.

“The people of West Virginia need to make sure that the legislature is effectively representing their views. The ability of a few vocal individuals to bottle up a bill so widely supported by the state’s residents and Senators does not sing of democracy. Instead, it smacks of the worst type of politics – contrarian bureaucrats out of touch with their constituents.

“Some politicians might prefer that this bill just go away. But the 4,500 U.S. English, Inc. members in West Virginia will not let that happen. We will work with our members to remind all voters where their leaders stand on this critical issue. Official English deserves a fair and democratic vote in the legislature. Anything less would be an affront to our political process and to the people of West Virginia.”