Pelosi to small businesses: No “English only” rules for employees, or else
posted at 8:23 pm on November 19, 2007 by Allahpundit
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has moved to kill an amendment that would protect employers from federal lawsuits for requiring their workers to speak English. Among the employers targeted by such lawsuits: the Salvation Army.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, a moderate Republican from Tennessee, is dumbstruck that legislation he views as simple common sense would be blocked. He noted that the full Senate passed his amendment to shield the Salvation Army by 75-19 last month, and the House followed suit with a 218-186 vote just this month. “I cannot imagine that the framers of the 1964 Civil Rights Act intended to say that it’s discrimination for a shoe shop owner to say to his or her employee, ‘I want you to be able to speak America’s common language on the job,’ ” he told the Senate last Thursday…
Sen. Alexander says that if [the bill is blocked], “thousands of small businesses across America will have to show there is some special reason to justify requiring their employees to speak our country’s common language on the job.” He notes that the number of EEOC actions against English-only policies grew to some 200 last year from 32 a decade ago. In an attempt at compromise, he has offered watered-down language that would still allow the EEOC to file many actions, but he says House Democrats rejected it.
Follow the link and you’ll see it’s not really Pelosi who’s pushing this, it’s members of the Hispanic Caucus who told Steny Hoyer to pull the provision or else they wouldn’t vote for reform of the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Hoyer’s reply: “How dare you destroy this party? This will be the worst loss in 10 years.”) Captain Ed considers the perverse economic incentives if the bill fails — a greater reluctance among employers to hire Hispanics being foremost among them — but I’m more interested in the political side. The Times and Journal each have articles out today describing the Democrats’ increasing unease trying to triangulate between Hispanic voters alienated by the GOP’s stance on amnesty and centrists alienated by the left’s open-borders idiocy. Your exit question: Given that most proponents of comprehensive immigration reform, including Her Majesty, concede that learning to speak English must be one of the requirements for amnesty, how exactly do the Dems spin this one if the GOP starts bludgeoning them with it on the trail? Especially in light of some of the nays on this vote taken in March 2006?
Update: “I speak the same language as the people that flew into the towers.”
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Thanks Nancy!
Bad Candy on November 19, 2007 at 8:27 PM
This is total loser for Democrats. But demanding that businesses adopt policies which can only harm them is incredibly stu……er, I mean, Democratic.
It will be entertaining to watch this unfold.
drjohn on November 19, 2007 at 8:28 PM
Boy, she is the gift that just keeps on giving huh?
conservnut on November 19, 2007 at 8:32 PM
As toxic as driver’s licenses. Time to ask Hil and Barry in the next debate.
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 8:34 PM
Gracias Señora Pelosi.
Mojave Mark on November 19, 2007 at 8:34 PM
What will Bill do to kill this before it snags Hillary?
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 8:35 PM
God she’s dumb. Is she trying to help Edwards?
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 8:35 PM
she would be in violation of this law if it was ever passed asny wonder why she is against it .
Mojack420 on November 19, 2007 at 8:36 PM
Pelosi is representing her country very well. Unfortunately, that country is Mexico.
rplat on November 19, 2007 at 8:37 PM
She just cannot be that stupid. She must know there’s a pres. election. Is Pelosi trying to derail Hillary? If so, what will the Clintons do about it?
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 8:42 PM
More porridge please?
JellyToast on November 19, 2007 at 8:43 PM
My Italian grandparents immigrated from Italy, learned English, were PROUD to be Americans and lived the American dream as Americans! Nothing wrong with requiring your employees to speak the language of the land. Nancy must not have been paying attention to the stories around the dinner table.
Ordinary1 on November 19, 2007 at 8:44 PM
Yeah, big “IF.” As in, “IF monkeys start flying out of my butt.”
CurtZHP on November 19, 2007 at 8:46 PM
English is the one and ONLY official language of this Great Country of immigrants whether the Congress or Mexico likes it or not.
Zorro on November 19, 2007 at 8:46 PM
Que estúpida!
MCPO Airdale on November 19, 2007 at 8:55 PM
I thought it was the Folsom Street Fair folks she represented. Ew.
I am not sure which is worse.
CrimsonFisted on November 19, 2007 at 8:56 PM
I recently filled out an application for a coaching position, which has and area to sign if you don’t speak English along with a spot for your interpretor to sign. Pure nonsense.
Pelosi sez “If they won’t learn English, you will learn Spanish (or hire someone to translate for them).”
Hening on November 19, 2007 at 8:56 PM
Hey, nancy. Bese mi asno
locomotivebreath1901 on November 19, 2007 at 8:56 PM
Ordinary1 on November 19, 2007 at 8:44 PM
Nancy don’t pay no attention to nobody except her own best interests and the extreme leftists trying their damndest to take over this country.
Griz on November 19, 2007 at 8:59 PM
2008 could/will be so much fun if the righties use or grow their malkins. The opportunities abound.
Entelechy on November 19, 2007 at 9:02 PM
Great, now when I order the burgers and fries, they can forget the fries in Spanish.
If I walk into a hospital emergency room, and the receptionist speaks only German, I die…
A policeman pulls me over and I can’t understand what he is giving me a ticket for.
All of us better brush up on our pantomime. There is going to be a lot of hand signals to get your car fixed.
Pelosi…the gift that keeps on giving. Now the Dems have to defend her or turn her back on her.
right2bright on November 19, 2007 at 9:06 PM
Where’s all the people who were whining that by being against illegal immigration and favoring traditional American values, the Rep. were self-destroying? Seems like taking a stand actually still counts for something with voters.
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 9:08 PM
There they go again trying to tell people how to run their businesses and, ultimately, their lives.
So, who’s the totalitarian — honestly…
eanax on November 19, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Please make it Murtha.
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Dinner table? She’s not even paying attention to the polling that shows the vast majority of voter’s are against this sort of thing. Either that or she does not care what the voters think and is just pushing that elitist/leftist agenda. I think they are in for a very rude awakening, or they are assured that Hillary has the fix in on 2008 . I do not trust them ,thieves every one.
bbz123 on November 19, 2007 at 9:09 PM
We have English in Canada,but we do have a province
called Quebec,they would rather speak french,oh
if you have a business in Quebec,make sure your
signs are in french,or you’ll have the French
sign goon’s writing you a fine.
The city I live in,which is a border town,passed a
English only resolution,and I mean nothing but English
only,about ten years ago,let’s say were not popular with
Quebec.So this looks like Pelosi’s next battle ground,
so English only,or the Republicans are going to have to defend english,while the liberal waste more time on nothing.
canopfor on November 19, 2007 at 9:11 PM
Drivers licenses for illegal aliens.
Forcing business owners to accept non-English speakers as workers.
I just love these concrete issues (and the tortured answers) that show voters who Democrats really are - coniving compromisers who wouldn’t recongnize a firm stance on principle if it hit them in the face. Just in time for the election.
And it is hitting them in the face - after it hits the fan.
(sorry for that scatological visual)
fred5678 on November 19, 2007 at 9:25 PM
This includes city governments and their 911 services, right?
highhopes on November 19, 2007 at 9:29 PM
Erm… that’s not quite right. Or, I suspect, willfully imprecise. She moved to kill an amendment that would protect employers from federal lawsuits for forbidding their workers to speak any non-English language.
That’s a very different thing from being able to mandate English fluency or literacy. Several commenters seem to be confused about this, thinking that Pelosi wants business to have to hire people who don’t speak English, which is not the case.
Mark Jaquith on November 19, 2007 at 9:37 PM
Alle gehorchen dachte diktator Pelosi!
MB4 on November 19, 2007 at 9:37 PM
And staff and doctors in emergency rooms……
drjohn on November 19, 2007 at 9:38 PM
What happened to Liberty?
Tim Burton on November 19, 2007 at 9:42 PM
That doesn’t jibe with what John Fund writes:
thirteen28 on November 19, 2007 at 9:56 PM
The Hispanic Caucus is very altruistic, no?
Go Nancy, if she has to learn Spanish, everyone does, hey how bout an amnesty bill too?
Speakup on November 19, 2007 at 10:08 PM
From a local paper where the suit originated:
They had over a year to learn and PRACTICE(!) English, but apparently didn’t want to bother learning how to say, “Which way to the fire exit?” or, “I need help - I have a pain in my chest!”
fred5678 on November 19, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Dios. I should have estudiado más difícilmente during mis dos anos of espanol some treinte anos ago. Rosetta Stone will be feliz.
Sue on November 19, 2007 at 10:12 PM
this is a sick joke? right?
did you spend weeks waiting for this opportunity?
(hint: if you wish to avoid vulgar images, don’t think about my point here.)
thuja on November 19, 2007 at 10:26 PM
people come here to escape from cultures that oppress or worse. They want to be Americans. So what do the liberals do? Tell them how great their culture is, not ours, the one they desperately want to adopt. If these immigrants wanted their culture they would have stayed! Idiots on the left embrace and glamourize the sh5ttiest of cultures and have our newcomers going WTF? Simply unreal.
pc on November 19, 2007 at 10:53 PM
The next thing we will hear is press one for Spanish, press two if you want to learn Spanish…
I have never understood why the Spanish-speaking people of the US, illegal or legal have such special privileges that other nationalities do not have. Where is Press three for Chinese or Press 4 for Vietnamese or Press 5 for German? Because all of these people speak ENGLISH! It is time we stop catering to Spanish-speaking people who will not learn our language. This is so absurd!
Neocon Peg on November 19, 2007 at 11:46 PM
Well I hope Nancy put her order in for a designer body bag, because if this becomes the next “licenses for illegals” for Hillary, Pelosi is toast.
D2Boston on November 19, 2007 at 11:48 PM
You cannot learn about American culture without English, period.
And if you do not wish to, then frankly we should ship you back to that wonderful place you rode in from.
DavidM on November 20, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Forget the border fence. I think we should start a collection to build a moat around California and then widen it until it floats away.
ronsfi on November 20, 2007 at 1:01 AM
If the applicant’s skillset does not match those required for the job, how can the applicant even be considered?
tdau1997 on November 20, 2007 at 1:23 AM
In that case all I have to say is:
ﻃﺿﺽﺼ ﺺ ﺹﺸ ﺶ ێۍی شڄځٻز كئم ډڅځٹ جڮګ ڞڀ
Translation :
You make our jobs easy you dumb fu_king C_nt
TheSitRep on November 20, 2007 at 1:59 AM
OK, Everyone write or call Senator Pelosi’s office in a foreign language complaining about this asinine idea.
Egfrow on November 20, 2007 at 5:03 AM
Yes.
aengus on November 20, 2007 at 6:28 AM
Not sure that language helps. HA isn’t the place for that…take it elsewhere please.
As for my small business…we suddenly went English only. Ms. Pelosi can bring on her hate and jackboots.
Pilgrim on November 20, 2007 at 7:23 AM
Thank you Comrade Pelosi. You do wonderful job. Keep up work good. Your Pal, V.Putin
BadBrad on November 20, 2007 at 7:27 AM
Pelosi is a nightmare, but what branch of government is the EEOC under?
Valiant on November 20, 2007 at 7:57 AM
They are teaching English to school children in Iraq. Even they understand the importance of the English languagee. We need to stop catering to the spanish speakers - learn English if you want to work in the U.S.!
ctmom on November 20, 2007 at 8:17 AM
How can Pelosi kill a bill that has been voting on and overwhelmingly passed?
ctmom on November 20, 2007 at 8:18 AM
i swear i never thought this would be an issue?
if you come to america you learn atleast a small amount of english, if you want to assimilate at least…. it seems that people want to come here not so much to be americans but to take advantage of us.
arent there more important issues to push then this idiocy?
trailortrash on November 20, 2007 at 8:38 AM
Let Ms. Pelosi go to another country and try to get a job and demand that they speak English because she cannot understand what they are saying. She would be fired immediately without remorse, you do not demand anything from the boss in an Asian business our country.
She must remember, as an employee or a guest in a foreign country you are a guest and it is your responsibility to fit in.
Conversely, not requiring those being hired in the U.S. to speak English is irresponsible to the other workers and the business customers.
If Ms. Pelosi would read the immigration laws it requires those seeking citizenship to speak and write English proficiently enough to be able to understand and perform the simplest tasks such as riding public transit, going to a store and to buy something, or communicate with appropriate authorities charged with protecting them.and
MSGTAS on November 20, 2007 at 9:02 AM
I don’t mean this to sound racist but, it’s always the hispanics that this is an issue with. Never any other race.
xler8bmw on November 20, 2007 at 9:17 AM
Maybe people should show up at Pelosi’s events and ask questions in, oh say Hungarian or Ugandan and see how she responds. It will expose the ridiculous nature of her proposal.
MRegine on November 20, 2007 at 9:50 AM
My God I hate liberals.
It seems the only possible explanation for their twisted a$$ backward take on things is that they must suck their head down between their shoulders and stick it out their butt before they begin talking.
leanright on November 20, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Exactly. John Fund’s article is inaccurate and misleading.
Mark Jaquith on November 20, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Hmmmm. I’m not sure on this one. Not all jobs would require you to have to speak English. There are a lot of legal citizens or naturalized citizens that in the least don’t speak English very well. I mean, do you need to understand English to put boxes on a conveyor belt?
As a societal issue, though, clearly it would be better to require everyone to at least have one common language.
So I’m a bit on the fence here. Anyone want to help me off it?
Seixon on November 20, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Your take doesn’t jibe with USA Today either:
It also doesn’t jibe with the Chattanooga Paper reports either:
Lamar Alexander, who introduced the amendment, might also beg to differ:
In other words, it’s just as Fund states: the amendment is to protect employers from federal lawsuits for requiring their workers to speak English.
thirteen28 on November 20, 2007 at 11:48 AM
An employer is not bound by the proposed amendment to hire people that are fluent in English. The amendment merely enables an employer to make English a requirement without fear of a federal lawsuit.
If an employer doesn’t believe English proficiency is necessary to do a particular job, they can still hire a non-English speaker. They just can’t be sued if they do make English a requirement on the job. What is the problem with that?
thirteen28 on November 20, 2007 at 11:53 AM
When Cal voted English only in schools, the Hispanic grade scores soared. Even the union had to back off and say it was a good idea. Then, slowly but surely, they implemented the system back in, and the scores began to drop again. But hey, the libs got their way, it just costs the education and success of a few hundred thousand kids.
They will destroy anything to get their way, kids, companies, the political system, anything but their pocket book.
right2bright on November 20, 2007 at 12:13 PM
tlhIngan maH!
Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam!
…
Yes, sorry, he only speaks Klingon… what do you mean he’s fired? Are you a bigot or something? Why can’t he work the register at Wendy’s?
Can you say lawsuit?
Ok, wait a sec, there’s no word for lawsuit in Klingon? Well that’s just stupid. How about “War by Economic Means”?
Damn, we’ll get back to you, and you’ll hear from our lawyer if my friend doesn’t kill him.
gekkobear on November 20, 2007 at 1:55 PM
As stupid and as typical as it is, it shouldn’t be a big deal for small businesses. Fire your non-english speakers now before any new laws are in place. All employment interviews are conducted in english. If they can’t speak english, don’t hire them.
Bottom line……….If a business owner is too stupid to figure that out, they shouldn’t be in business.
stacman on November 20, 2007 at 5:06 PM
… for requiring their workers to speak English EXCLUSIVELY. Which is the same as banning other languages.
Mark Jaquith on November 20, 2007 at 8:14 PM