Politics

House approves English-only driver's tests

KBIA | By Marshall Griffin

Published February 21, 2012 at 11:20 AM CST

Legislation would make English the sole language on driver's license tests.

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation that would require driver’s license exams be given only in English.Currently, the state of Missouri provides the written driver’s exam in English and eleven other languages. GOP House Member Mark Parkinson of St. Charles, says his bill follows the spirit of the state constitution’s mandate that public proceedings be conducted in English.

“I looked a real quick search…if it’s on the Internet, it has to be true…but there’s 6,999 different spoken languages and dialects throughout the world, and why are we only catering to eleven and not every one?” Parkinson said.

Opponents argued that the bill would discriminate against legal immigrants and interfere with their ability to earn a living. It needs one more House vote before moving over to the Missouri Senate.

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

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