Political Quotes

Harry Johnston: “there is an old saying: ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'' There is a new saying here today: ``If it ain't broke…”

On the recordAugust 1, 1996
there is an old saying: ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'' There is a new saying here today: ``If it ain't broke, break it.'' There is really no rational reason for this bill. In Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties in Florida, there are 700,000 Cuban-Americans, and I have great respect for the two Republican Cuban-Americans that represent that area. If they get a letter in Spanish, if they answer it in Spanish they have broken the law, and under that bill we can now sue them. A Democrat can come along and sue the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Diaz-Balart] or the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen], and it is absolutely ludicrous. Mr. Chairman, there is no reason for this bill. It disenfranchises a lot of very good Americans, and I strongly support the Serrano amendment, and strongly do not support the final bill. I urge my colleagues: Please vote against it.
Said by
Harry Johnston
Democratic · Florida
Source
govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Opposing a bill affecting language use and legal repercussions for representatives in Florida.

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