After extended legal wrangling, Alabama's revised anti-illegal immigration statute, H. B. 658, was finally signed into law by Governor Robert Bentley.  Two days into a special session of the Alabama state legislature called by Governor Robert Bentley (photo), the governor failed to find a friendly lawmaker who would introduce his proposed amendments to the state’s immigration law.

The special session was called last week by Bentley in order to address issues related to redistricting, as well as the controversial immigration statute that has been the subject of lawsuits and fierce debate nationwide.

Bentley, a Republican, thought for a moment that his proposed slate of changes might stand a chance of coming before the state senate when it was attached to a bill offered by Republican Senator Scott Beason. Beason balked, however, and rather than allow Bentley’s bill to piggyback onto his own, he withdrew his measure altogether.

On Friday, the governor threw in the towel in his battle in the state House of Representatives, as well, ultimately signing H.B. 658 into law. That measure was itself an alteration to an earlier immigration bill that was intended to simplify the previous proposal.

Upon reading the writing on the wall, Bentley released a statement minimizing the personal effrontery of his legislative impotency.

“As we worked with legislators during the special session, it became clear that the Legislature did not have the appetite for addressing further revisions at this time,” Bentley said. “In an effort to remove the distraction of immigration from the other business of the special session, I decided to sign House Bill 658 and allow the progress made in the legislation to move forward. We can now also move forward on the other business of the special session.”

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