The Washington Post wrote an interesting story today on a bill proposed by state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax.

The bill, SB 339, says that if an employee doesn’t speak English in accordance with an established workplace policy, it can be labeled misconduct. Under rules of the Virginia Employment Commission, an employee who is fired for misconduct is ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits.

Cuccinelli told the Post the bill evolved from a conversation with an employer whose unemployment taxes went up after he fired an employee who didn’t learn English. Cuccinelli said the bill would give employers a recourse against employees who promise to learn English but don’t.

Currently, more than 100 people have commented on the bill on the Post’s Web site.