Editorial: Stating the obvious

Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

State lawmakers should know the difference between a state issue and one of national scope that should be addressed by Congress.

Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, illustrated on Monday that he doesn't know the difference when he introduced Senate Bill 325, which seeks to make English Nevada's official language. The bill also would require state agencies to keep track of how much money they spend on providing services in languages other than English.

Nothing says "government waste" so succinctly as a bill that calls for additional paperwork to track existing paperwork. Agencies already know how much it costs them to provide services in different languages. And the bill's exemptions to its "official language" provision lists judicial, public safety, health and other agencies that are pretty much the only ones that offer services in other languages. Beyond that, this legislation proposes to reinforce that which already is true: English is the de facto language of business and government in Nevada.

Apparently, Beers is trying to accomplish statewide what the Pahrump Town Board tried to do on a local level when it approved in November - then rescinded in February - a ridiculous "English-only" ordinance that also prohibited the lone display of any foreign flag.

Just before the Nevada Legislature opened its session in February, we noted that lawmakers in 32 states had proposed about 570 bills aimed at immigration reform last year, 87 of which passed and none of which created an "official" language. What has resulted, however, is a confusing patchwork of state laws that have no real or positive effect on national immigration reform. This is an issue that must be confronted by Congress, rather than state lawmakers, and certainly not through proposals such as the one championed by Beers.

The Legislature should avoid wasting government's time and taxpayers' money, letting this ridiculous proposal die where it lies.