FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2000 CONTACT: Chris Friesleben, (515) 271-2833 LEGISLATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY FORUM TO DISCUSS ENGLISH-ONLY PROPOSAL FOR STATE Several Iowa legislators will discuss the merits and drawbacks of making English the official language of the state at a Drake Law School community forum on Wednesday, March 15. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in room 213 Cartwright Hall, 27th Street and Carpenter Avenue. Sen. Steve King of Kiron and Rep. Mike Cormack of Fort Dodge, both Republicans, will speak in favor of the measure that passed the Iowa Senate last year, but failed in the House. Democratic legislators – Sen. Bill Fink of Carlisle and Rep. Ed Fallon of Des Moines - will speak against the proposal. Audience members will be permitted to ask questions and participate in the discussion. On a 32-16 vote last year, the Iowa Senate passed a bill requiring all official state reports be printed in English. The legislation also established a Center for New Iowans to provide immigration counseling and referral services to legal immigrants. The House, however, voted 51-48 to remove the official language section of the bill and sent it back to the Senate, where it awaits further action. The issue has created an impassioned debate among Iowans. Opponents argue that the bill singles out immigrants and makes Iowa appear intolerant of new residents who don’t speak English. Supporters disagree, however, saying the bill simply stresses the importance of learning the English language. The Senate is expected to take action on the bill soon. Its choices are to insist on the English language requirement and return the bill to the House for its reconsideration, or approve the House’s version of the bill without the official language requirement and send it to Gov. Vilsack for signature. The forum is sponsored by the Drake Law School Constitutional Law Center. For more information, contact Thomas E. Baker, the center’s director, at (515) 271-3354.