Governor Napolitano vetoed a bill May 9 that would have made English the state’s official language and required that government business be conducted in English.

Supporters said the measure was needed to encourage assimilation of immigrants, but opponents said it was an attack on illegal immigrants.

In her veto letter, Ms. Napolitano said non-English speakers should be encouraged to learn the language, but that the bill did not do anything to achieve that.

Lawmakers have yet to fund adequately school programs for English learners, she said. “Under these circumstances, making English the only language for official action is contradictory at best,” Ms. Napolitano wrote.

A similar proposal that would put the official language in the state Constitution is being considered by lawmakers. It would bypass the governor and instead appear on the 2006 general election ballot for voters to decide.

That measure cleared the House but stalled in the Senate.

Nearly seven years ago, a voter-approved law making English the state’s official language was overturned by the state Supreme Court. —

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