Eagle Forum |
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| June 26, 2006 |
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE BALLOTS DELAYED, BUT NOT YET DEFEATED
Tell Your Representative to reject Foreign Language Ballots
Representative Steve King (R-IA) has been leading the way in exposing, addressing and defeating foreign language ballots. Rep. King drafted a letter to Republican leadership opposing foreign language ballots signed by 79 Members of Congress. See if your Representative signed on here. However, his amendments striking the foreign language ballots provision were not allowed by the Republican leadership. Congress needs to hear from YOU! Keeping foreign language ballots while talking about legalizing up to 12 million illegal aliens spells disaster for assimilation and America's "melting pot" culture. The VRA vote was delayed because of your action. Keep it up! Your Representative and the House Republican leadership need to hear from you! Let them know that you reject foreign language ballots.
Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121
Dear Representative, I am writing to urge you to reject foreign language ballots. The Voting Rights Act (VRA) includes a provision mandating that state and local governments provide foreign language ballots. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is coming up for reauthorization, was an important civil rights law because it eliminated barriers that historically had kept many black citizens from voting. The blacks didn't and don't need foreign-language ballots but, during the law's reauthorization in 1975, it was hijacked by those who wanted to pander to foreign-speaking minorities. Foreign language ballots don't make civic sense. You can't vote unless you are a citizen (at least you are not supposed to). To become a naturalized American citizen, our law requires that you demonstrate "an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write and speak . . . simple words and phrases . . . in ordinary usage in the English language." Foreign language ballots are an open invitation to fraud because the Voting Rights Act requires foreign-language election information, notices, forms, instructions, and assistance in addition to ballots. This, plus the widespread availability of voter pamphlets and absentee ballot applications, gives unscrupulous party operatives countless ways to deceive voters about the issues and the candidates, and increases the likelihood that non-citizens will vote illegally. Foreign language ballots are costly to taxpayers and municipalities. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that Los Angeles County taxpayers spent $1.1 million to provide ballots and election materials in five languages in 1996, escalating to $3.3 million in seven languages in March 2002. In several counties, the cost of foreign-language ballots is more than half the entire election expense. Please vote against foreign language ballots in the VRA and urge the House leadership to allow the House to vote on this vital issue. I will be watching your vote. Sincerely, |
