MADISON - The Republican-controlled Assembly wants to make English the official language in Wisconsin.

The bill passed early Thursday morning despite it having virtually no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle.

The bill would require that English be used by all units of state and local government in written communication except in limited situations.

Government agencies would also have to report how much is spent preparing materials in languages other than English.

Rep. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, pushed for the bill just hours after he returned from a two-month tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard.