MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An economic developer for Etowah County expressed concern Thursday that some foreign companies may be removing Alabama from their lists of possible locations for new facilities because of the state's tough new immigration law.
Mike McCain, executive director of the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority, spoke at a meeting of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee, which was discussing proposed bills for the 2012 legislative session designed to help bring new jobs to Alabama.
Committee member Democratic Rep. Rod Scott of Birmingham asked McCain if he had sensed from any reluctance from foreign businesses because of the immigration law.
McCain said no companies have said they won't come to Alabama because of the law, but he's concerned some foreign businesses "may be crossing us off their list."
Later in the meeting, Birmingham attorney Alex Leath who works on economic development issues, told committee members it has been his experience that other states are using the immigration law against Alabama when recruiting new businesses.
"We did kind of hand them a stick so we shouldn't be surprised they are hitting us with it," Leath said.
The Alabama Legislature last year passed the bill that has been called by supporters and critics as the toughest crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country. The new law affects illegal immigrants in most phases of their lives.
One of the sponsors of the bill creating the immigration law, Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, said he believes the law has been responsible for Alabama's unemployment rate dropping significantly in the last few months. He said he also does not believe the law is keeping foreign businesses from coming to Alabama.
"Those who oppose the new law ignore the fact that areas like Marshall County where the illegal alien population was very high, have seen unemployment drop 3 points since the law was passed.
"I promised that the anti-illegal immigration law would open up thousands of jobs for Alabamians, and it has done that. People are going back to work," Beason said.
Committee chairman Rep Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, told committee members a priority in the early days of the 2012 session, which begins Feb. 7, will be a bill that will allow companies to use tax money that has been withheld from employees for expansion and other projects that will add new jobs
Committee member Rep. Alan Harper, D-Aliceville, said the committee's purpose this session is to send bills to the House floor that will help create jobs.
"The only way I know to create new wealth in Alabama is to create new jobs," Harper said
Bills being proposed for this session also include a measure to provide tax incentives for data processing companies that locate in the state and another to change the name of the state's economic development agency from the Alabama Development Office to Alabama Department of Commerce.
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