Official English to be Decided By Missouri Voters

Legislature’s action gives voters the choice in November 2008

The Missouri Senate and House agreed on Friday to give the state’s voters the chance to make English the official language of the state. Under H.J.R. 7, English would become the official language of all official proceedings in Missouri. The proposal, which passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins, would most likely appear on the general election ballot in Nov. 2008.

Though Missouri made English its official language in 1998, the existing legislation does not require the use of English in official government proceedings. The proposed Constitutional Amendment would make English the language of all official proceedings in the state and would require that English be used at any meeting of a public governmental body at which any public business is discussed or decided. The measure also notes exceptions where other languages may be used, such as at informal gatherings of legislators for social or ministerial functions.

The proposed amendment marks the ninth time that voters have been given the opportunity to make English the official language of a state. Voters have approved the ballot initiative on all eight previous occasions, most recently in November 2006, when three out of every four Arizona voters cast favorable ballots on the measure. The states which have enacted English as their official language, the year of the vote, and the percentage of votes in favor are: Alabama (1990) – 89 percent, Alaska (1998) – 69 percent, Arizona (1988/2006) – 51 percent/74 percent, California (1986) – 73 percent, Colorado (1988) – 63 percent, Florida (1988) – 81 percent, and Utah (2000) – 67 percent.

“Past history and current polls demonstrate that Americans wholeheartedly support policies making English the official language,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “At a time when much of the public believes that their elected officials are out of touch, Missouri legislators are responsive to what they are hearing from their constituents. This is a beneficial amendment for all Missourians, and I look forward to working toward its success in 2008.”

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. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.