Eighty percent of Alabama residents support the state’s controversial immigration law, although legislators were to begin tweaking some of its “really goofy” provisions this week, according to Rep. Jim McClendon.

“I don’t know that the legislature has ever gotten a bill 100 percent right the first time,” he told members of the Springville Chamber of Commerce before the state legislature opened its 2012 session Tuesday.  “We’re not going to kill it or weaken it, but we are going to make it easier to understand and take the dumb stuff out of it.”

Education reform and plans to create more jobs are also expected to be at the forefront of lawmakers’ efforts this session, but McClendon said few bills have as much support as the immigration law.

“We’re constantly polling to see where the public is on it, and the latest numbers show 80 percent of Alabamians in support of it.  I think the other 20 percent work for the media.  We’ve got real grassroots support for it, and I don’t think the number has ever been below 72 or 73 percent.  There are some things about it that need to be fixed, but no matter what you see or hear, I guarantee that bill is having an impact on unemployment.”

He cited as an example Marshall County, where the unemployment rate was nine percent last September.  “Now it’s done to six percent.  That’s the immigration law working to make sure that jobs go to U.S. citizens.”

McClendon said he expects legislators to give priority to bills aimed at giving employers incentives to hire and expand their companies through tax exemptions.  “You’re going to see bills out and signed by the governor in six, seven, and eight working days.  That’s never happened before, but we’re going to make Alabama more business-friendly.  It’s one world now, and there are companies in other countries that want to manufacture in Alabama.”

According to one proposal, companies could qualify for tax breaks even before they relocate to or build plants in Alabama.

“If you have solid plans to be here in 12 months or a reasonable period of time and you’re going to hire Alabamians and put them to work, we’ll give you tax incentives and tariff benefits before you get here,” McClendon said.  

Lawmakers are also expected this session to consider bills dealing with charter schools, adjustments to state employees’ retirement system, and a McClendon-sponsored proposal to ban texting while driving.