Montgomery, Al.
It just won’t go away.
Creating jobs in Alabama has been dubbed as lawmakers’ top priority when the 2012 legislative session kicks off Tuesday in Montgomery, but the issue that continues to steal the headlines revolves around Alabama’s controversial immigration law.
It was passed last year. This year, lawmakers will attempt to modify it.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, agree that the law will continue to have teeth, but it will face modifications in the coming weeks.
“We don’t want to back up from the initial intent, which was to make sure people who are in the state and working in the state are here legally and that the taxpayers of Alabama are not expected to subsidize people who are here illegally,” Hubbard said during a Thursday interview at the Statehouse. “Since the last session, we have been working with dozens of groups that had some concerns and suggestions how to improve the bill, and we sat down with them and asked for input, and since we have been working on coming up with what we feel like will be the best solution.”
Hubbard expects a resolution on the new law before the Legislature’s spring break.
“We think it’s a good piece of legislation, and we will continue to stand behind it,” Marsh said of the law. “But also, we recognize that there were some unintended consequences. Even with the changes, this law will still be the strongest immigration law in the country.”
One possible change was announced Friday, when Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, announced plans to introduce a bill, among other things, that will allow churches and “good Samaritans” the opportunity to help people in need without fear of breaking the law. That was one complaint the religious community had about the law.
“We’ll still have a very strong anti-immigration bill,” Hubbard said. “But we will have one that is very workable and more enforceable.”
Top Agenda
Republicans announced weeks ago that job creation was their top agenda heading into the legislative session. Democrats did the same.
Legislators need not bring a bill before fellow lawmakers not related to economic growth or job creation. It may fall on deaf ears.
“We told the members of the Senate and House that any bill that is a job-creating bill, we want to hear it early and deal with it early,” Marsh said in an interview Friday afternoon. “We have made clear that there will be nothing else dealt with first.”
Hubbard expects a variety of bills to be introduced, from incentive-based ones to hire veterans, to incentives to lure industries, to making it easier for companies to conduct business in the state.
“We have an economic development incentives plan that we need to pass as a constitutional amendment to make sure that we can continue to have the tools in our toolbox from a state standpoint and a local standpoint to go out and recruit industrial prospects,” Hubbard said. “We have some small business-related bills that are designed to cut through the government red tape and government regulations so companies are not having to spend so much time and money complying with regulations when they need to be spending their time growing their businesses and employing people.”
Hubbard said he believes both parties will agree on the packages introduced.
Marsh hinted that the immigration law might have helped lower Alabama’s unemployment rate, which dipped to 8.1 percent in December, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The rate was 9.1 percent in December of 2010, just after Republicans gained the majority in the Legislature.
Lee County is tied with Pike, Madison and Limestone counties for the state’s third-lowest rate at 6.4 percent.
Budget Woes
Alabama’s general fund had $1.8 billion to divvy between state programs and services. Cuts were made. Jobs were eliminated. Alabama’s government services were fleeced.
It’s expected to happen again.
Hubbard told the Opelika-Auburn News he fears the general fund may have to operate with roughly $400 million less than last year when lawmakers set the fiscal year 2013 budget.
“I think you’re going to see us in a worse situation than where we were last year in the general fund,” Hubbard said. “The governor (Robert Bentley) has been talking about the fact that we have two checkbooks in the state of Alabama. We have an education budget and a general fund budget. It is very difficult to manage the state when you can’t use the revenue back and forth. That’s not to say we need to take education dollars away. We need to make sure that we don’t do anything that could jeopardize the gains that we have made in education. But at the same time, we have to operate state government.
“The general fund has little to no growth revenue in it, and we’re going to find ourselves about $400 million shy. Now is the time where we have to get it done. It’s going to be painful. There’s going to be a lot of turf protection because there are a lot of people who like to maintain the status quo. But maintaining the status-quo is not an option.
“I think you will see some consolidations. You’ll probably see some agencies done away with. It’s all done in the name of being efficient. We’ll have to see where we are dollar-wise, then prioritize.”
Not on the immediate list of concerns is legislative redistricting, which lawmakers must approve this year. Hubbard hopes to avoid a special session, which would cost the taxpayers extra money, and have the new lines approved by lawmakers before the session closes after 105 calendar days.
On February 4, 2012 the Dothan Police Department became involved in a case regarding a possible shooting death of a Dothan resident. Officers received information that a twenty-four year old male named Jarvis Daffin had become the victim of a homicide. Investigators began a diligent effort to confirm details of the incident during which time they learned that Jarvis Daffin was last seen going to Headland, Alabama with two other males. Investigators developed further information that lead them to believe during this trip, Mr. Daffin was fatally wounded by a single gunshot wound and placed in a wooded area in the vicinity of Tumbelton, Alabama. With the assistance of Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Headland Police Department and A.B.I., investigators with the Dothan Police Department were able locate the victim and evidence that was left behind. Investigators stated the motive for the crime appears to be robbery. An autopsy conducted this morning has confirmed the victim is Jarvis Daffin. Investigators have developed several persons of interest but are not releasing any further information at this time. Police are asking anyone with information about the case or identity of the suspect to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.
