State Sen. Steve King, R-District 6, will meet tonight with members of the Iowa State Linguistics Program and Bruce Horner, associate professor of English at Drake University, to discuss the possibility of making English the state’s official language.

Both King and Horner will give a short presentation followed by an open discussion in Room E-164 of Lagomarcino Hall at 7 p.m.

“Every society needs a consistent form of communication currency. We need to be able to come back to a common denominator,” King said.

King, who is proposing a bill in the Iowa Legislature to make English the state’s official language, said he sees American society as more of a multicultural mosaic than a melting pot. “From that unity, we draw our strengths,” he said.

Horner, who is a member of the Iowa Immigrants Rights Project, does not support King’s view. “The legislation is unnecessary and will be harmful in its effects,” he said.

He believes that if Iowa passes this legislation, it will not help declining population and employment.

“Immigrants will look to other states with more friendly attitudes towards languages, where they will feel more comfortable,” Horner said.

King said he hopes the proposal is not seen as racist. He said Americans need to be able to communicate so that there is no apprehension.

There are 25 other states that have successfully passed English as the official language. The proposals differ depending on the wording.

Horner said California and Arizona have thrown out the legislation because it’s viewed as unconstitutional and as a violation of First Amendment rights.

King said he believes that without a single language, “we have devalued the value of the American Dream.” He also hopes making English the official language of Iowa will encourage non-natives to learn it.

However, Horner said he thinks immigrants are aware of the need to learn English.

The panel discussion is free and open to the public.