A bill that would make English the official language for all government documents passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
It would mandate that all official documents for government use, such as ballots and trade policies, be published in English.
It was sent back to the Senate, where it passed on March 10, because amendments were added in the House. If it passes the Senate, it will be sent to the governor for her signature.
The bill originally was written so the Arizona Department of Transportation could issue child abuse prevention license plates for motorcycles.
The amendment was added to the license plate bill in the House Appropriations Committee. Any amendment can be added if the committee votes for its inclusion.
Rep. Russell K. Pearce, R-Mesa, added an amendment to the bill that would make English the official language of Arizona.
Pearce said English has always been the most common language in America and that it is necessary to be able to speak it to be successful.
There should be a demand on citizens to speak English, Pearce added.
"We're Americans," he said. "We speak English."
Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Tolleson, is against the bill because the bill would only hurt people.
"This punishes those folks who don't know the language," he said.
The state does not do enough to fund programs that would help people learn English, Gallardo said.
It is common sense that people should learn the language on their own, Pearce said.
"It's your job to learn English, it's not my job to teach you," he added.
Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-Tempe, said she voted for the bill because "government should have one language." It in no way excludes non-English speakers, she said.
It is important to encourage those who immigrate to America to learn English, she added.
"You want to be successful in this country, then you have to speak English," Knaperek said.
Pearce's amendment is similar to the House Concurrent Resolution he introduced earlier in the legislative session.
The resolution would also make English the official language of Arizona.
The resolution passed the House and the Senate Committee on Appropriations but still needs to be passed by the entire Senate. If passed, it would be on the 2006 ballot.
Gallardo said the reason Pearce added the amendment, almost identical to his resolution, is so Gov. Janet Napolitano has to comment on it.
If the governor is forced to make a strong stance, then Republicans could use that against her in next year's election, he added.
Pearce said the Senate bill, with the amendment, is a backup measure to the resolution.
Reach the reporter at michael.famiglietti@asu.edu.
