West Virginia governor vetoes bill to make English state's official language
CHARLESTON, W.Va. West Virginia's governor says he vetoed a bill to make English the state's official language because the bill had a technical flaw. Democrat Joe Manchin says he's not opposed to the idea. But he says the bill seems to conflict with the state constitution, which limits each piece of legislation to one topic.
The original bill to increase the size of park and recreation boards was amended in the last hours of the regular legislative session.
Efforts to make English the state's official language have been introduced and defeated each year since the late 1990s.
The 2000 Census finds West Virginia has the highest percentage of English-only speakers in the country. Fewer than three out of 100 of the state's residents speak a foreign language at home.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
