House: What's Spanish for OMG?
Carumba. The House*just* missed having another racial blow-up on the floor with a bill by Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Carrollton.
The bill would make it a requirement for commercial drivers in Texas to speak English. Until Rep. Eddie Lucio killed it with a point of order.
And by “killed” I mean, “sent it back to committee where I’d be shocked if it escaped a second time.”
But I’ll get to that in a second. Gotta get you all the drama first.
Jackson’s opening presentation included references to Juan Robles Gutierrez, the guy driving the bus that burst into flames and killed more than 20 senior citizens, though he saved some of them during the blaze.
Robles, who entered the country illegally, was cleared of criminally negligent homicide charges and given a work visa.
Reports that the driver who flagged him down after seeing sparks said he didn’t know if Robles could understand him – that’s what Mr. Jackson keyed in on in his opener, and that’s what got a very mad Rep. Kino Flores, a Valley Democrat, started from the back mic.
Flores began by loudly asking him in Spanish from the back mic if he would yield to a question. Craddick tried to ease the tension by telling Mr. Flores he was probably “going to have to talk to someone else about that.”
Undaunted, Flores continued in Spanish until Craddick finally asked a speechless Mr. Jackson (on the front mic) if he would yield for a question. Course he would, and Flores began hitting.
“Are you aware that driver you were talking about was able to save 6 or 7 lives?” he demanded. And then said, “but I want to ask you this right now. Can you tell me what this says??? Can you tell me, or do you want me to come up front?”
He held up card after card with pictures of road signs on them – stop, two-way str eet, etc.
“This last one says you’ve got a bad bill. Get it off this floor.”
Bunch of low whistles and “whoa” heard around the floor, and then Lucio called the point of order – arguably saving Jackson’s you-know-what from a serious shredding a la Sid Miller or Dianne Delisi.
Now. Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, chairman of Transportation, seemed amused when asked why he let the bill out of his committee – but simply said, “You don’t have to agree with every bill you let out.” True enough. He also probably knew full well that it would die on a point of order somewhere – those things aren’t that hard to find if you’re really looking – and that Craddick would have been a loony tune if he didn’t uphold it and recommit the bill.
He was right, of course, and that’s exactly what happened.
I’ll be shocked (shocked!) if Krusee lets that bill out when it actually has a chance to get some floor time – and I KNOW that the Ds, particularly the Valley Ds, will be P.O. if it does.
Plus, Craddick takes a hit every time one of these bills winds up on the floor, too – if his minority chairmen keep having to deal with this kind of legislation getting past Calendars and on the floor, that can’t be good for him long-term. Just guessing.
Also, chairmen typically don’t like having to apologize on the House floor for letting such a racially sensitive bill like that out of committee – and Krusee’s not blind. He was there when House State Affairs Chairman David Swinford had to eat crow in front of everyone after the confederate statues bill.
And Jackson, a very pleasant friendly guy, has good reason to avoid that lashing on the floor, too, even if he doesn’t know it yet. It’s ugly, and nobody looks good doing it. Just ask Linda Harper-Brown.
Then again, Mr. Jackson’s district includes Farmer’s Branch – a leader in advocating anti-illegal-immigrant actions. So his constituents are probably on board.
Comments
I think it was even more dramatic than that. Flores asked twice in English if Jackson would yield for a question, Jackson refused. The third time Flores asked in Spanish, Craddick said nothing, Flores asked again in Spanish and Jackson finally yielded the floor.
At least Flores wasn't thrice denied.
Posted by: Lefty | April 24, 2007 5:52 PM
So it's racist to require truck drivers to know English? How many people are going to die because the truckers can't read the road signs?
Posted by: AC | April 24, 2007 7:45 PM
ADM = Ay, dios mio! I'm starting a trend. NO more OMG for me... it's now ADM.
Posted by: Marie | April 24, 2007 9:16 PM
AC - i'm not sure the fire on the bus had anything to do with whether the driver spoke English.As for the rest of them, foreign tourists drive on our highways all the time. If they can do it, the pros can do it.
Posted by: northtexan | April 24, 2007 9:40 PM
A. D. M.
/I knew that...
Posted by: Brooks | April 24, 2007 9:44 PM
How many people have to die? I challenge you to name one instance of an individual dying because some driver lacked a command of the English language. What about the illiterate folk? Or dyslexics? Outlaw them, too, by god.
Kino's point, by flashing the international (they don't call 'em that for nothin') traffic control signs, was that it does not take a command of the English language to be a safe driver. Are you worried about them missing the Austin exit? Austin in Spanish is still Austin, bro. I mean really. I bet they understand Manchaca, despite the fact that José Antonio Menchacaqv might object to the bastardization of his name.
Posted by: Don't Mess w/ Pink | April 24, 2007 9:45 PM
what's driving got to do with speaking english?
Posted by: DM | April 24, 2007 11:12 PM
To Lefty, Would it be alright for other countries to ban American drivers who don't speak their native language? I've driven in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany with no problems. Why should be expect privileges we deny to others? Xenophobic arrogance isn't an acceptable answer, by the way.
Posted by: Mike M | April 25, 2007 2:52 AM
I think Rep. Jackson's point was not about the international traffic signs, which each conform to a specific color and shape.
Instead, his bill was filed because of the proliferation of "message board" signs--those electronic sign boards with changing text which signal of accidents ahead, lane closures, construction, and the like.
While the bill wasn't necessary, Kino didn't have to be such an abrasive, confrontational figure. He had a valid point, but, as always, Flores showed why he doesn't win many friends.
Posted by: Creamgroovy | April 25, 2007 9:11 AM
To Mike M,
Perhaps your comments are better addressed to AC, my comments were only about the action on the floor not the merit, or lack thereof, of the bill in question.
ADM indeed.
Posted by: Lefty | April 25, 2007 11:50 AM
Let's just get the inevitable overwith--make Spanish the official language of the US. It's pretty freaking close in Texas already. Newscasters practically stop down each broadcast falling all over themselves in order to give the "Spanish Pronunciation"--I've even heard Italian names mispronounced as Spanish names. Why do Spanish names get preferential treatment? Why doesn't anyone learn the Indian or Pakistani or Farsi or Arabic or Chinese or Vietnamese pronunciations of names? This area has large populations of those ethnic groups too--why aren't they accomodated? Spanish-speakers who are so attached to their native tongue should argue for every last language to be included on anything that has to be printed or said or read in Spanish and English--it's only fair--or does only "La Raza" deserve special treatment? It would appear that many people indeed espouse that unfortunate opinion.
Posted by: Ray | April 25, 2007 12:19 PM
Rayo,
No más de enchiladas para usted.
Sinceramente, La Gerencia
Posted by: lush | April 25, 2007 3:03 PM
If Kruse believes a chairman need not agree with a bill to release it from committee, he should not held up the toll moratorium against the will of the vast majority!
Posted by: Dan Jasinski | April 25, 2007 10:54 PM
And here I thought ADM stood for Adios Mofo! ;)
I've driven in Mexico with minimalist tourist spanish and gotten along just fine. It really isn't a problem. American truckers drive there, so Mexican truckers should be allowed to drive here.
Posted by: Gritsforbreakfast | April 26, 2007 8:12 AM
Seriously, has anyone *ever* seen one of those electronic sign boards that actually carried a timely, relevant, and/or helpful message? Puh-lease. My favorite: the ones that said "Burn and arson ban in effect". Oh, really? So on other days, arson is NOT banned? Hmmm....
Posted by: Noonie | April 27, 2007 12:10 AM
So it is o.k. to speak spanish and demand the floor of the house, but not o.k. to speak English and refuse to yield? Why don't we just give texas back to the mexicans and let them run TDCJ as most of the inmates are mexican and are in the country illegally for stealing and rapeing purposes. maybe I should have just said o.k. you raped me in English then sad ADM i forgive you because you speak spanish and don't understand the Texas Laws? You need to speak english to understand the laws that govern the driveing of the state and the USA. Please I have spanish friends who came to Texas legally and worked hard to learn English because they are now Americans not Mexicans. They are proud of their culture and ancestors but they also are proud of being Americans.
Posted by: angel | April 28, 2007 2:06 PM
Yea, why is there not any other languages here in Texas? There are Malaysians, Phillipinos, etc. Shouldn't we accommodate all since we're an open border state who does not want to insensitive to any race?
Posted by: Lisa | April 29, 2007 11:50 PM