A bill to make English Michigan’s official language cleared the state House Thursday. As we hear from Capital Bureau Chief Rick Pluta, the debate got fierce at times.
The bill passed on a mostly-party line vote.
Republicans say Michigan should join 32 other states that have declared English their official language. Democrats say the bill sends the wrong message to foreigners and immigrants.
Democratic state Representative Abdullah Hammoud said the bill taps into a dark place in current politics, and is a distraction from real issues.
“Have you nothing more important to do than to pass a bill to make people feel less American?
The bill now goes to the state Senate, where the Republican majority leader says it’s not a priority.
