English-only drive appears stalled

Tuesday, June 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A proposal to make English the official language in Nevada appears dead -- for now.

But another measure, the first step in a long process to limit the years congressmen can serve, may be headed for the November ballot.

Proponents of both proposals had until 5 p.m. today to collect signatures from 38,660 registered voters to make the ballot.

The English-language group concedes it probably fell short. They had wanted to amend the Nevada Constitution to make English the official language for governmental agencies and public documents.

"If we make it, it will be by the skin of our teeth," said Keith Lynam, spokesman for Nevadans for a Common Language, which plans to push for English-only laws at the 1997 Legislature.

Meanwhile, Nevadans who want to limit congressional terms to 12 years in the Senate and six in the House may get a chance to be heard.

U.S. Term Limits, led by former Senate candidate Hal Furman, has apparently collected enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot urging the Legislature to vote for a constitutional convention that would amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict terms.

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