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 By  Staff Reports Published 
6:27 am Thursday, January 31, 2008

I like 'no English, no license'

By Staff
Jerry Fancher
I agree with Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow that the driver's license examination should only be given in English. If a person cannot read English, how can they follow the laws of the highway and read the signs. If a person does not understand the rules of the road, how can they safely operate a vehicle?
Sen. Roger Bedford has a different view about this law. He says that it will hurt the pro business image that Alabama has developed with foreign corporations who have recently located in Alabama. He said "…It may hurt the image of the state if those people are here and they can't even drive on our roads."
I find it hard to believe that a foreign company would send over executives to work here that do not have a command of the English Language. I would think that giving instructions to employees through an interpreter would hinder the plants productivity.
Perhaps, Sen. Bedford would like to rethink his position on this important legislation, or give his real reason for opposing the bill.
The article also points out that any legislation must be approved by a 60 percent majority, until the Legislature has passed the state budgets. The state budgets never are passed until the twelfth hour. This is an opportunity for both Rep. Morrow and Sen. Bedford to exhibit statesmanship and change the rules of the Legislature to modernize the flow of bills in an orderly fashion.
The citizens of Alabama have suffered many times because these rules have been used to stifle the flow of bills through our Legislature.
These rules are used so a minority of House and Senate members can dictate our Legislative process.
Tuesday is Presidential Primary day in Alabama. Ask, which candidate best reflects your views on the issues? Make your voice count, vote Tuesday.
Jerry Fancher is Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Executive Committee. He can be reached via email at fancherjd@yahoo.com

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