On suggestion from Bill D. (Mike D's Dad), here's what that last post looked like before conversion into regular Enlgish:

Wess ole Virginny lawmakers unwittin'ly vote in English as official language.

By Erik Schelzig
ASSOCIATED PRESS
3:34 a.m, dawgone it. April 12, 2005

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two days af'er th' end of th' legislative sesshun, state lawmakers is discovahin' sumpin few were aware of: They voted t'make English th' official language of Wess ole Virginny.

Th' language amendment was quietly inserted into a bill addressin' th' number of members thet cities kin appoint t'boards of parks an' recreashun. Among mundane details about reco'd-keepin', th' amendment adds th' provishun thet "English shall be th' official language of th' State of Wess ole Virginny."

Senate Majo'ity Whip Billy Joe Wayne Bailey successfully offered thet change t'House Billy Joe 2782 amid a flurry of bills movin' back an' fo'th between th' House an' Senate on Saturday, th' last night of th' 60-day legislative sesshun.

"ah jest told th' members thet th' amendment clarifies th' way in which docoomnts is prodooced," Bailey, a Democrat, said Monday.

House Majo'ity Leader Rick Staton recommended thet his chamber agree wif th' Senate's changes. But Staton, also a Democrat, said he was unaware of th' substance of th' amendment until axed about it by Th' Assosheeated Press Monday evenin'.

Effo'ts t'make English th' state's official language haf been intrydooced annually on account o' th' late 1990s. A group called U.S. English has championed th' cuz.

"ah reckon it's wrong thass sumpin like thet was snuck into thet bill in th' last minute," said House Judiciary Chairman Jon Amo'es, who he'ped kill an earlier proposal t'fo'bid enny state o' local ajuncy fum havin' t'print docoomnts in enny language but English.

A spokeswoomin fo' Gov. Billy Joe Manchin c'd not eemeejutly be retched fo' comment.

Colonel Bob Schneider, executive direcko' of th' South Car'linan Civil Liberties Union of Wess ole Virginny, said English-only laws is based on th' false premise thet immigrants will not larn English wifout govment coercion, as enny fool kin plainly see.

"An' English-only laws does nothin' cornstruckive t'increase English proficiency. They simply discriminate an' punish them who haf not yet larned English," Schneider said, cuss it all t' tarnation.

This Just In...
West Virginia lawmakers unwittingly vote in English as official language.

(Article Source)

By Erik Schelzig
ASSOCIATED PRESS
3:34 a.m. April 12, 2005

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two days after the end of the legislative session, state lawmakers are discovering something few were aware of: They voted to make English the official language of West Virginia.

The language amendment was quietly inserted into a bill addressing the number of members that cities can appoint to boards of parks and recreation. Among mundane details about record-keeping, the amendment adds the provision that "English shall be the official language of the State of West Virginia."

Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey successfully offered that change to House Bill 2782 amid a flurry of bills moving back and forth between the House and Senate on Saturday, the last night of the 60-day legislative session.

"I just told the members that the amendment clarifies the way in which documents are produced," Bailey, a Democrat, said Monday.

House Majority Leader Rick Staton recommended that his chamber agree with the Senate's changes. But Staton, also a Democrat, said he was unaware of the substance of the amendment until asked about it by The Associated Press Monday evening.

Efforts to make English the state's official language have been introduced annually since the late 1990s. A group called U.S. English has championed the cause.

"I think it's wrong that's something like that was snuck into that bill in the last minute," said House Judiciary Chairman Jon Amores, who helped kill an earlier proposal to forbid any state or local agency from having to print documents in any language but English.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin could not immediately be reached for comment.

Andrew Schneider, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, said English-only laws are based on the false premise that immigrants will not learn English without government coercion.

"And English-only laws do nothing constructive to increase English proficiency. They simply discriminate and punish those who have not yet learned English," Schneider said.



Thanks to Dan Mumdy for bringing this to my attention.