But this week, a revised version of bill reappeared and was approved by the state senate: Senate OKs bill targeting non-English-speaking drivers. If it becomes a law, English would be the only language someone can use to get a Georgia driver's license. There are currently 13 languages in which someone can take the driver's license exam.
Murphy, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said it was a safety issue. Drivers who can’t read road signs pose a danger to everyone, he said.This is an anti-immigrant bill, straight up. Do not give me that nonsense about this being some kind of safety issue. Georgia issues licenses to illiterate drivers -- people who can't even read any language. They can even get help for the test! Somehow, the bill makes a hell of an exception for them.
But critics of the bill point to the fact that illiterate Georgians are still allowed to drive and are helped with the test. But their overriding concern is that the bill is anti-immigrant and could stunt economic development in the state.
They even have a name for it: the "Kia Go Home Bill," named after the South Korean automaker that builds cars in Georgia with a sizable Korean work force.
"This bill would tell Kia that it is OK to invest a billion dollars here in Georgia, but your employees cannot drive here," said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director for the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "This is sending the wrong message and would make Georgia the only state in the country with a law like this. It is anti-immigration, anti-Latino and anti-economy development."
This is blatant hostility towards people who speak another language. Hell, it's even referred to as the "Kia Go Home Bill." People of Georgia, do not let this damn bill become a law. More here: Driver's Test Bill Sparks Controversy.
