The State - News from May 22, 1985

A proposal to declare English the official language of California was rejected by the Assembly Government Organization Committee, but backers of the measure vowed to use a ballot initiative to turn their proposal into law. Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier), author of the defeated bill, said his proposal would encourage non-English-speaking Californians to assimilate more quickly into the American culture. But Assemblyman Richard Alatorre (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the committee, suggested that the measure could be considered an insult. “I’m from Mexico and bilingual,” Alatorre said. “I find your bill offensive.”