Bentley talks with Ala. manufacturers

POINT CLEAR, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama Governor Robert Bentley spoke to a business meeting in Point Clear Friday about a constitutional amendment approved by voters on Tuesday.

It allows more than $430 Million to be moved from a state trust fund to the general fund to pay for prisons, Medicaid health care for the poor, and other services.

Latest unemployment number for Alabama

But, Bentley told a manufacturing group that the work isn't finished yet.

The governor spoke to members of Manufacture Alabama at the association’s fall meeting.

He said he was glad voters approved the amendment, but said the money has to be paid back.

Bentley said, "There are ways, and we are already working on this, on how we're going to begin to pay this back. And, (when) we begin to pay this back, people will believe we were telling the truth."

What ideas did the Governor have?

Bentley said, "Whether it’s through lawsuit money, or wherever it comes from, we are going to begin to pay this money back."

Among the people in the audience were two state representatives from Baldwin County.

Representatives Joe Faust and Harry Shiver acknowledged the work ahead of them, the governor, and other legislators.

But, what did they have to say about ways to pay back the money?

Faust said, "I guess I've got five or six e-mails yesterday saying, 'Our eyes are on you. How are you going to pay it back?'  I'm one representative, but I think it’s something we're going to sit down and talk about, and we're not going to make the governor a liar. We're going to pay that money back."

Shiver said, "We'll have meetings, and we've got meetings planned. So it will get paid back."

Just in case, the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party has already said the party is ready to introduce legislation mandating the repayment.

The next regular session, however, starts in February of next year.

The money would be taken over a period of three years.

The amendment passed by a two to one vote.