Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2009
Sen. Anthony Sykes
Senate Sends English Determination to Vote of the People
The State Senate has given its approval to a measure
allowing voters to decide whether all official business of the
state should be conducted in English. The Senate voted on Wednesday
evening to approve House Joint Resolution 1042, authored by Senator
Anthony
Sykes. Sykes said a compromise was worked out earlier in the
day prior to the vote.
“The compromise reached on Wednesday afternoon was the product
of a lot of hard work and negotiations. I want to especially thank
Senators Brian Bingman and Patrick Anderson for their input and
support. The Resolution states that English is the common and
unifying language of the state, and that all official actions
of the state will be in English,” Sykes said.
Sykes said adoption of this Constitutional amendment could save
the state tremendous costs of providing documents and services
in multiple languages. In addition to potential savings, Sykes
said adoption of the amendment would unify the state.
“I’m an advocate that language unites, not divides.
If you look throughout history, successful nations and peoples
have one thing in common—their language,” Sykes said.
HJR 1042 now returns to the House of Representatives for consideration
of Senate amendments.
For more information contact:
Sen. Sykes' Office - 405-521-5569
