COMMISSIONS VOTING ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

(09/06/2003)
Two West Virginia county commissions have voted to make English their official language.

Lewis County commissioners voted on a resolution this week. Wayne County commissioners voted earlier this summer to make English the county's official language.

The Calhoun Commission will likely consider the matter.

Vivian Parsons, who heads the state County Commissioners Association, hopes all county commissions will act on similar resolutions.

The County Commissions Association adopted a resolution last month that supports proposed federal legislation that would make English the nation's official language.

Legislation has been introduced in the West Virginia state Legislature in recent years, but so far it has not been adopted.

Parsons says making English the state's official language could reduce future costs by preventing government from printing information in more than one language.