Redundant Fix For Non-Problem

Tue., May 12, 1998

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

It was bad enough last year when Kootenai County was badgered into adopting Commissioner Ron Rankin’s goofy English-only resolution.

Now, Rankin plans to foist his idea on delegates to the state GOP convention next month in Coeur d’Alene. Rankin has filed a resolution asking Republicans to lobby the Legislature to adopt English as the official government language and mandate that all state business and publications be done in English.

Delegates should run, not walk, away from this one. It’s worse than worthless. Not only does it accomplish nothing, but it draws unwanted attention to Idaho’s racist image. Besides, Idaho law already requires that official business be conducted in English. So, what’s the point - other than to tell minorities they’re not wanted in the Gem State?

Before Republicans blindly follow Rankin over a cliff, they should consider a phone call fielded last week by the Kootenai County commissioners’ office. One of North Idaho’s few minorities phoned to ask if he could be jailed for speaking Spanish in Kootenai County. If someone who lives in Kootenai County can misconstrue the resolution so badly, what must minorities in other states think of it? How much has this symbolic madness cost Kootenai County’s vital tourism industry?

Last year, Rankin won a showdown with Commissioners Dick Compton and Dick Panabaker by claiming it was costly to conduct government business in multiple languages. He noted that the Idaho Transportation Department printed driver’s manuals in Spanish as well as English. He also threatened to bring the proposed resolution up each week to embarrass his fellow commissioners until they approved it.

The experience of other counties that have adopted such rules reveals that the resolutions have had little impact. As of a year ago, 42 of the 3,072 counties in the United States had endorsed English as the official language. Contacted for a March 1997 story, officials of Bennett County, S.D., and several other counties were unaware of their English-only provisions. None of them could cite any effect the forgotten policy had had.

Most immigrants know they must learn to speak English to communicate and function in this country. Statistics show they willingly embrace their new language. Some 90 percent of all firstgeneration immigrants and 100 percent of all second-generation immigrants learn English.

Immigrants don’t need Rankin’s patronizing little rule. Neither does Idaho. The GOP ought to concentrate on reforms that would give government a good name.

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