The effort to pass an unneeded bill declaring English as the state’s official language has demonstrated that effective communication requires more than a common knowledge of English. Negotiators have struggled to reconcile the House version, which includes funding for English classes, with the Senate version, which doesn’t. One senator suggested the bill was dead for the session. At one point during a meeting, Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth — never one to mince words — told Senate negotiators, “We’re not a bunch of four-eyed virgins sitting at this table having never done this before.” Maybe lawmakers need a mediator — or perhaps a translator — to get together on this bill.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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18 Comments
Perhaps the bill is dead for this session, but as more and more illegals swarm our border – the need to hold them accountable for their crimes will take precedence over the need to appear politically-correct.
The first step is to shut our border. Solid wall – razor wire – and for those who burrow under – a bullet, no questions asked. Those here illegally – deport – and if they are found here a second time – a bullet is a cost-effective way to handle that.
For those who come here legally – learn English. Period.
Our legislators need to pass a bill making it ILLEGAL for ANY employer to hire wetbacks. Mandatory jail time.
Pass a bill making it ILLEGAL for manufacturers to sell ANY product in Kansas that is not labeled ONLY in English.
Get tough – or lose your country.
This situation is the perfect example of why appeasement fails – EVERY TIME.
Legal immigrants will ALWAYS be welcome.
We don’t cotton to criminals.
But you know what… the Republicans will NEVER hold those responsible for this mess which are the EMPLOYERS that entice the Mexicans to sneak in. It is easier just to pick on the Mexicans themselves because they don’t vote and don’t give the GOP money. The GOP would rather deny medical care to a sick Mexican kid because his parents snuck in than to take on the employer who enticed them to sneak in. The little Mexican kid is eaiser to pick on and nobody ever accused Republicans of having MORALS did they?
Yeah Kev, you tell ‘em. (rolls eyes)
I wonder what part of “illegal” of illegal immigrant Kev doesn’t understand.
“Pass a bill making it ILLEGAL for manufacturers to sell ANY product in Kansas that is not labeled ONLY in English.”Why, what purpose does the state have to do this?
“We don’t cotton to criminals.”
(in slow southern drawl) We don’t like your kind round here boy. You best just go back where you’s from.
“The effort to pass an unneeded bill declaring English as the state’s official language…”
WHO the hell do you think you are Rhonda??!! IF the people of the State of Kansas want their representatives to propose and pass this legislations it would be the “will of the people”. And judging from the polling both in Kansas and the Nation 80-90% of the populations of both want “English Official Language” of “English First” legislation and the enforcement of the laws. Why the hell pass new laws if they are not going to be enforced??
Additionally, since when is the “will of the people” (ie the majority for those slower individuals)”UNEEDED” or “UNECESSARY”???
Kev, if you read my former post, you will find that I advocated stiff penalties for those who hire illegals.
Most Republicans do want those who hire illegals to be punished.
But we are beyond JUST that. We need to take strong measures – and take them now, to stop the illegals from destroying our country, like they have Old Mexico. Pacifying these criminals has ONLY encourage MORE to break the law.
My sister, who works for a DA, in Colorado, says MOST of their violent crime is coming from illegal aliens, but they can’t prosecute them. They put them on something called an “ICE hold” and wait for them to be deported.
Many are back in a month or less. These are rapists and worse.
It’s past time to take firm action.
“The first step is to shut our border. Solid wall – razor wire – and for those who burrow under – a bullet, no questions asked. Those here illegally – deport – and if they are found here a second time – a bullet is a cost-effective way to handle that.”
Unfortunately, deportation for those already here is costly. Shooting is murder, unless your own life is at stake, isn’t it? And although I agree that our lifeSTYLE is at risk as is our country, shooting just seems a bit extreme. And how many citizens will see something like this and take matters into their own hands?
However…
I agree that something needs to be done now, but as usually happens, those things that need the fullest attention of Congress (no matter what political party) are the things that are not attended to.
The first thing that needs to be done is to ENFORCE THE LAWS now on the books. Yes, the first step is to find a way to close the border.
Along with the first, we need to stop the reason illegals are coming across the border. The laws are there. Why aren’t they enforced? Companies are hiring illegals every day, yet few are called to account for it.
Something else that needs to be stopped is immigration officials who take the money and papers from those requesting legal immigration and “losing” them, only to ask that the paperwork and fee be done again. And again. Maybe we need to clean up our own backyard, too.
We have legal immigration laws. USE them. No need to pass new laws, just enforce the current ones.
“Pass a bill making it ILLEGAL for manufacturers to sell ANY product in Kansas that is not labeled ONLY in English.”
GSheridan, that was a truly DUMB thing to even suggest.
Whassamatter, your meds ran out this weekend too?
Tyler Durden is a regular poster on DU. He lives in Michigan.
The stated reason for the bill, according to sponsor Don Myers of Derby was “to encourage people to learn to speak English”.Hey, Harley Silt Loam has been the official state dirt of Kansas since 1991.Have any of you rushed out to put it in your yard?
mrcontroversy,
You’ve hit the nail on the head. Passing another law will not even put a dent in the problem.
GS,I don’t think your labeling law will work. Considering the amount of products with multi-language labeling and/or instructions, the reason for that may be that those products are international. IIRC, my computer and printer instructions are in 2 or 3 languages other than English. One, I believe is Japanese.
Forcing companies to label only in English for Kansas would mean added expense for the company. That would eventually lead to higher prices and, in the end, to those of us here in the state having to go elsewhere.
I’m as angry about the illegal problem as the majority is for just as many reasons. But I do think we need to come to some reasonable decisions about what can be done, hopefully without spilling blood.
Problem? There’s a problem? I don’t see one. I have no problem communicating with just about anybody. If there is a problem, intelligent folk generally figure out what each other is saying.
But we need more laws, don’t we? What else is politics for? It sure ain’t about common sense.
For a start, we need more money put into the law enforcement on illegal immigration violations, create more law enforcement jobs.Better organization on reporting and better processing of violations.The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, so now how much easier can that be explained?
By the way, do any of you volunteer your talents to help out with the processes?
Wiseman, what processes? Please elucidate. I’m not sure what you mean.
Should the additional money put into law enforcement be Federal or State? Just curious, because, IIRC, the President said we were going to build a wall. The problem is, he didn’t fund the building of the wall. Can he be counted on do fund the law enforcement needed?
And from where will we get the money, whether Federal or State? Federal is already well out of bounds on spending, and states are suffering, due to cuts in things like education.
Are you calling for a tax to pay for this? Not saying it wouldn’t, in the end, be worthwhile, but…
RD –What do you think that the National Guards are doing at the borders?They are paper pushing for the border patrol so that border patrol can have more of their men out in the fields doing the enforcements.What processes do you think?The same processes that you commented on at 11:45 am, also you can report suspicious activity by calling toll free to ICE at 1-866-347-2423 or go to http://www.WeHireAliens.com, they will report an employer of illegal aliens to ICE, the IRS, and the Social Security Administration for you while letting the rest of America know that employer has been reported.I am with you RD when you said enforcing the laws now on the books.Where would we get the money? How much money are the smugglers making?Confiscation of money, penalties, fines and restitutions can be use to support the enforcement, they say 20 billion dollars a year is sent back home just to Mexico alone.Where the money comes from is not a problem.