Archives
 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

Also on Franklin County Times
Wife, 65, admits she shot, killed husband
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – A 65-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after she admitted to shooting her husband Sunday evening inside their residence on Dunca...
3 firefighters receive Lifesaver Awards
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — More than two months after city firefighters responded to a cardiac arrest call that left Steven Bledsoe without a pulse for 27 minutes...
FBLA students earn honors at state
News, Phil Campbell, Records
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Members of the Phil Campbell High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter earned honors during the Alabama FBLA State Leader...
Obituaries
Obituaries
May 13, 2026
Ruth E. Spooner May 7, 2026   Ruth E. Spooner, 90, of Beloit, Wis., passed away on Thursday morning, May 7, at Cedar Crest, in Janesville, Wis. She wa...
The protection system you’ve never heard of
Columnists, Opinion
May 13, 2026
When you visit a doctor, you might notice the framed medical license on the wall. For most patients, that document is simply reassurance that their ph...
Retired educators hear state updates
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
May 13, 2026
Retired educators met at the Russellville First Methodist Church Ministry Center for the last meeting for the Franklin County Retired Educators Associ...
Students get life lessons with hatching classes
News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Students at Phil Campbell Elementary School and Phil Campbell High School recently got some handson lessons about animal life cycles a...
STEAM expo highlights student projects
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Middle school students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade presented the findings of their STEAM Expo projects last week. From testing w...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *