Georgia's state legislature is currently considering a law that would impose English-Only provisions for the driver's license test.  The specifics of the bill are in the Action Alert below, but what really moves me about this issue is how the Asian Pacific American community has weighed in.  In the state, local Asian Pacific American groups have been outspoken about the need to make sure that Georgians don't let misguided xenophobia be the basis of their lawmaking.  

The Center for Pan Asian Community Services has been at the forefront of advocacy and direct service for the community for a long time in the region, but I was most moved by examples of how heat has come from unexpected sources on this issue.  I was in Atlanta this past weekend and had the opportunity to meet not only with leaders from local Asian Pacific American community organizations, but also student organizations from local colleges and universities.  Listening to real people talk with conviction about this issue and how it will affect them was inspiring to me.  I was also moved by how individuals who had bought into simplistic generalizations about this at first, but changed their minds when they heard the full story and are now opposed to this.  

I have always said that progressives lose when issues get oversimplified.  It's all about our higher motives and NOT the lowest common denominator.  

The next few days will tell us where this important legislation moves.  But I'm glad that we've got great folks that are holding it down for us in the South.  

In solidarity,

Bentot

From: Judy Yi [mailto:judy.yi@cpacs.org] 

Hello All,

The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS) echoes the Korean American Coalition, Atlanta Chapter on the opposition of SB 67 (“The Driving Jobs Out of Georgia Act”), the bill that would require driver’s licensing exams be provided in only English, eliminating the current Spanish, Korean, and Japanese versions. This bill targets legal immigrants and citizens who should have equal access to government services, and severs the strong bonds that tie immigrants into our communities. By restricting people’s ability to take the DMV exam, we limit not just worker mobility but potential economic development. SB 67 sends the wrong message to companies that want to create jobs in our state.

·       Negative impact on families – Parents/Grandparents need to drive in order to work and to care for their families, and to bring children to school and church.

·       Discrimination against U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, including Limited English Proficient (LEP) Georgians who should have equal access to governmental services. There are questions about whether or not the bill is even constitutionally viable, or whether the state would be inviting costly discrimination lawsuits.

·       Reduces Georgia’s economic vitality – A 2007 Duke University study by Wadhwa and Saxenian shows that 30 percent of Georgia’s tech startups were founded by immigrant entrepreneurs. The Driving Jobs Out of Georgia Act sends the message that Georgians are not open to entrepreneurial investment.  

·       Negative message to companies looking to invest in Georgia, including international companies like Kia Motors, which is willing to create jobs in our state at a time of double-digit unemployment. With almost half a million Georgians seeking work, our elected officials should be actively seeking ways to attract businesses and new jobs here, instead of sending the wrong message, and driving jobs out of Georgia.

We understand the importance of learning English. However this bill requires fluency which can take years to achieve.  Citizens and LPRs should not be penalized while they are still trying to learn English and be productive members of Georgia’s economic and civic life. We encourage our legislators to keep good jobs in the state by voting no on SB 67.

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We urge you to make calls/contact the Rules Committee today!

Chair Rules Committee - Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs

Email - earl@ehrhart.4emm.com

Bio Page - http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/house/bios/ehrhartEarl/ehrhartEarlBio.htm

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For Georgians:

Take action and call your legislator!

To find your district/legislator - http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/FindLegislator.htm

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Please see attached KAC Press Release and sample Letter to Legislators. CPACS also translated KAC Press Release/Member Letter in Chinese and Korean. 

We hope this may be helpful in these communities.

Please spread the word to all communities, and also send the message to friends in other states to contact the Governor’s office and tell him to veto SB 67 (if passed by the House) at http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html

We are concerned that if this bill passes in Georgia, that anti-immigrant groups will try to pass it in other states as well, limiting job creation and equal access to public benefits.

Best,

Judy Yi

Program Director

Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS)

 3760 Park Avenue

Doraville, GA 30340

Phone: 770-936-0969 ext. 28

Fax: 770-458-9377

Email: judy.yi@cpacs.org

www.cpacs.org

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