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
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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