English doesn't need help in being state's official language

The Idaho Senate on Wednesday moved one step closer to changing the state motto to: "You are in Idaho, speak English."

With a 20-15 vote, the Senate voted in favor of SB117 which would make English the official language of the Gem State.

On one hand, 28 other states have adopted the official English stance. On the other hand, none of these 28 states has a reputation as a bastion for white supremacy and racism that has embarrassed Idaho for so long.

The Senate has a lot more important matters than to waste time on this legislation that panders to all of the wrong people and accomplishes nothing positive.

Sandpoint Sen. Shawn Keough supported the bill partially because of financial reasons. This year she noticed that several state publications were being printed in English were being duplicated in Spanish. One group, the Idaho Womens' Commission's law guide was one example. This state-funded guide helps women through the legal mazes surrounding abuse, divorce and financial issues. The duplicate printing used up a lot of this group's budget, she said.

There are 46 different languages spoken in Ada County and 82 languages in Idaho, she said.

"We need one language to be the official one," she said.

Pocatello Democrat Sen. Edgar Malepeai, an American Samoan, testified Wednesday every Idaho county and state agency already does its business in English. So English already is the de facto language of Idaho and always will be.

Malepeai said it isn't the English language, but democracy and freedom that binds the United States. He's right.

Sagle Sen. Joyce Broadsword voted against the bill.

SB117 next moves to the House, where hopefully the body will let it die in peace with a heartfelt good-bye, au revoir, sayonara, shalom or adios.

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.