Des Moines Register

Wednesday, April 21, 1999

House Quickly Defeats Proposal To Make English "Official Language"
By JEFF ZELENY, Des Moines Register Staff Writer

The Iowa House Tuesday narrowly defeated a proposal to designate English as Iowa's official language after a surprising political twist in the debate.

The issue had unfolded into one of the most controversial ideas of the legislative session. Even though Gov. Tom Vilsack hinted he would veto the bill, Republican House leaders believed they had enough support for the plan.

So they vowed to hunker down for a long, bitter debate. But in the end, the issue was defused in less than two hours through a series of procedural moves seldom seen in the Iowa House of Representatives.

"It's pretty rare," said Rep. Minnette Doderer, an Iowa City Democrat who has served in the Legislature for 33 years. "It's one of those kind of issues that doesn't do anything but stir us up."

The proposal would have required all official Iowa reports to be printed in English, something that is already done. The bill also would have established a center to welcome and teach new immigrants.

Rep. Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, introduced a plan to wipe out the English-language portion of the bill. Under the plan, the immigrant center would be expanded.

Knowing the vote would be close, Rep. Michael Cormack, a Fort Dodge Republican and lead supporter of the bill, tried to block Dotzler's plan by adding the English-language provision back to the bill.

House Majority Brent Siegrist, a Council Bluffs Republican, urged legislators to cool their tempers.

With that, the House fell silent before the English provision was defeated, 48-51. The immigrant center proposal was advanced back to the Senate on a 94-4 vote, but Senate leaders say the idea is dead for the year.