West Virginia lawmakers learn they adopted English as official language

[Rose Siding]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Two days after the end of the legislative session, state lawmakers are discovering something few were aware of: They voted to make English the official language of West Virginia.

The language amendment was quietly inserted into a bill addressing the number of members that cities can appoint to boards of parks and recreation. Among mundane details about record-keeping, the amendment adds the provision that "English shall be the official language of the State of West Virginia."

Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey successfully offered that change to House Bill 2782 amid a flurry of bills moving back and forth between the House and Senate on Saturday, the last night of the 60-day legislative session.

"I just told the members that the amendment clarifies the way in which documents are produced," Bailey, a Democrat, said Monday.
...
Efforts to make English the state's official language have been introduced annually since the late 1990s. A group called U.S. English has championed the cause.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3130474

[htuttle]

1. If they had a grasp of English, they would have noticed what they'd signed

:eyes:

[renaissanceguy]

2. Looks like * can't visit there now.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.16472020

[Festivito]

3. What jolly rot. More expressively coulourful than American.

Including the accent would be a nice touch.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[KamaAina]

5. What were the other contenders?

I mean, it's not like WV is a major hotbed of diversity or anything.

Why, then, did Sen. Bailey -- a Democrat! :grr: -- feel the need to sleaze this in to a parks commission bill?! Is there any rememdy for an amendment like this that is clearly not germane (or German, for that matter)?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

6. "southern" and "amur'can" just barely edged out

Considering that I hear the English language mangled on a daily basis here in Huntington, this is just another example of how our state is "just asking for it" with the late night comedians.