Sebelius tepid on English bill By Carl Manning
The Associated Press
Published Friday, May 04, 2007

Most legislation dealing with illegal immigration failed this year, but a bill making English the state's official language passed and has received a tepid reception from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius says she may sign the English measure even though she doesn't think it goes far enough to help people learn the language.

Lawmakers ended their annual session Wednesday, having started it in January vowing to deal with illegal immigration. Backers of proposals other than the English bill promised to try again next year.

After protests from advocates for immigrants, supporters reworked the English bill with an eye toward making it appear less punitive. At least 28 other states have made English their official or common language.

At one point, the bill included $500,000 to pay for English classes, with supporters saying learning English would help immigrants get better jobs. But the money was stripped from the bill and also later from a supplemental spending bill.

While the governor said she might sign the bill, she called it "sort of status quo" and expressed disappointment no money was provided for teaching English.

"The notion, somehow, we are going to mandate English as the language of the state and then make it difficult for people to learn the language of the state doesn't seem to me to make a lot of sense," she said.

Melinda Lewis, of El Centro Inc., a Hispanic advocacy group in the Kansas City area, said the bill is divisive and "sends a cruel message to people trying to learn English."

"Taking the money out puts a lie to the legislative statement about helping people learn English," she said. "If that was the case, they wouldn't have taken out the only piece that likely would have helped people learn English."

In another immigration issue, Sen. Tim Huelskamp said he would push next year to require people to prove their citizenship when they register to vote for the first time and to show a photo ID at polling places.

"We just ran out of time," said Huelskamp, R-Fowler.

Backers said such requirements will prevent election fraud. Detractors complained people would have to pay for birth certificates or passports and said that it is a myth that large numbers of illegal immigrants vote.

Legislation denying illegal immigrants public assistance such as welfare and unemployment benefits and increasing penalties for employers who hire them failed to get out of the House.

The measure also would have repealed a 2004 law granting lower, in-state tuition to illegal immigrants who graduate from Kansas high schools and are seeking citizenship. About 170 illegal immigrants are getting the tuition break this year.

Rep. Lance Kinzer, who sponsored the bill, said Thursday he will offer separate bills next year, which he thought might improve chances of passage.

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.