As a former administrative law judge described it, if a claimant were 45 years or older, limited to sedentary work, and claimed an inability to communicate in English, they were a “slam-dunk for benefits.”
That is true even if those applying for benefits reside in an area, such a Puerto Rico, where English is not the predominant language.
The new rule, set to take effect April 27, will end that by eliminating the inability to communicate in English as a qualifying factor in Disability Insurance benefit determinations.
Republicans in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would declare English the official language of the United States.
Well, this will never pass. It just makes too damn much sense. And if by some strange turn of events it did pass, President Obama would veto it faster than you can say, “C’est la vie.”
Speak Engalish, damn it
TheHill.com has the details:
Republicans in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would declare English the official language of the United States and require the development of English language testing guidelines for those applying for U.S. citizenship.
The English Language Unity Act would set out a new chapter in U.S. code that imposes an obligation on U.S. officials to “preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government.”
Part of this chapter would include a “uniform English language rule” holding that “all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States made in pursuance of the Constitution.”
Here in California, we currently produce ballots in at least eight written languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Japanese, Khmer and Korean) and one language (Cahuilla) that has no written form.
And we wouldn’t be surprised if Ebonics joined the list very soon.
Down in Alabamy, there’s a Republican named Tim James running for governor. He’s not happy with the fact that the state does business in twelve different languages. Not happy at all.
Down in Alabamy, there’s a Republican named Tim James running for governor. He’s not happy with the fact that the state does business in twelve different languages. Not happy at all.
You’re going to love this commercial as much as liberals hate it when James looks into the camera and says, “This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it.”
The South shall rise again. And so shall James’ poll numbers.
