Bentley speaks about jobs, economy at chamber luncheon

Job creation and unemployment were just some of the issues Gov. Robert Bentley touched on at Monday’s Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Bentley used the venue as a platform to present his annual Alabama Update.

Bentley said his top priority is putting Alabamians to work.

He said Alabama works as a team, which attracts businesses.

“Other places look at Alabama and say ‘you all do things a little better than other places,’” he said.

He noted that more than 150,000 people in Alabama are unemployed and he is “works everyday to put them back to work.”

He also spoke about the failure of House Bill 160, a bill that would allow companies to keep a certain percentage of the state income taxes withheld from new employees. He said the bill was important in creating jobs.

He also spoke about new programs and actions he has implemented in Madison County. One of which is the Tornado Recovery Action Council of Alabama. The Council is comprised of 19 community, corporate and non-profit leaders from across the state. The Council held community forums and used citizen input and research to develop a report and 20 action-oriented recommendations to reduce damage and loss of life in future disasters. He also talked about the state’s tax free holiday.