The Alabama Legislature convenes today at noon, and Gov. Robert Bentley will give his state of the state address this evening.
Those expecting something new will likely be disappointed. There are still more “needs” than there is money to pay for them. We put the word in quotes because, in the Legislature, one party’s need is another party’s frivolity. We’ll hear about how the General Fund is in crisis, and Gov. Bentley is expected to raise the idea of rolling the Special Education Trust Fund in with the General Fund.
That would be a mistake. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Speaking of mistakes, lawmakers will entertain proposals to fix a whopper from last year’s session – the ill-conceived immigration law.
Immigration is the purview of the federal government. If it’s not working, Congress has a responsibility to fix it. Alabama – or any state, for that matter – doesn’t need an immigration law.
Gov. Bentley and the Republican majority disagree.
“We need to have the best immigration law we possibly can,” said the governor. “We will clarify and simplify the law to make it better.”
Those who supported the law last year are beginning to fear that it may hurt the state’s ability to recruit new industry. Considering that foreign executives from two of our state’s automotive plants have been detained under the immigration law, that may be an understatement.
The best way to mitigate damage done by Alabama’s immigration law is to repeal it. One Wiregrass lawmaker, Rep. Billy Beasley (D-Clayton), has already filed a bill that would do just that.
It’s the most effective remedy. But it’s unlikely to happen.
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