U.S. ENGLISH, Inc.: Towards a United America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2000

Contact:

Tim Schultz
800/787-8216
202/833-0100

Backroom Tactics Threaten To Keep Official English Measure Off November Ballot

Washington, DC-Chairman/CEO Mauro E. Mujica issued a warning to Oklahoma citizens that forces in the state government may be attempting to torpedo a ballot initiative that will make English the official language of Oklahoma. "We have received word that the state government is dragging its feet on certifying the over 101,000 signatures that were collected in support of this measure. Citizens signed these petitions with the expectation that this measure would be on the November ballot, not killed in some back room. If this measure is kept off the ballot, it will not only be a slap in the face of the citizens who signed petitions, but an affront to all Oklahomans, since it would make a joke out of the entire initiative process."

Under Oklahoma law, 69,887 signatures are required to qualify a proposed law for statewide ballot. Once the signatures have been submitted to the state for review by the Supreme Court, the governor has until 60 days before the election to officially certify the measure. While there is no statutory requirement for parties in state government to act promptly or in good faith, state officials have traditionally not tried to privately stymie an initiative.

"I am an immigrant from Chile, and having traveled all throughout Latin America, I am quite familiar with election shenanigans," Mujica continued. "This is not something I expected when I became a citizen of the United States. Polls show that over 90% of Oklahomans support this measure. But even if the support was only 3%, these signatures were legally collected, and the state has an obligation to abide by the law without any delay. The people of Oklahoma are waiting to see whether or not their state government will act with integrity. I hope that it will."

U.S.ENGLISH is the nations oldest, largest 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 now has more than 1.4 million members nationwide, including more than 15,000 in Oklahoma.

Top of Page

Tel: 202-833-0100
Fax: 202-833-0108
info@us-english.org

Technology & Design by Gen-X Strategies

Any citation of the material contained in this website must credit U.S.ENGLISH. No portion of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any way without the express permission of U.S.ENGLISH. Copyright violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.