Del Marsh on March 18.jpg

Sen. Del Marsh said today he believes it is time for Gov. Robert Bentley to resign to do what is best for the state.

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The leader of the Alabama Senate today called for Gov. Robert Bentley to resign, saying the governor can no longer effectively lead the state.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said the state is unable to effectively deal with major issues like state prisons, education, budgets and infrastructure because of Bentley's weakened leadership.

The governor issued a statement today saying he won't resign.

"I have no intentions of resigning and I am looking forward to continuing to work on important issues facing the state," Bentley said.

The Alabama Ethics Commission on Wednesday found probable cause that the governor had violated the ethics law and the campaign finance law.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin impeachment hearings on Monday.

Marsh said he could not comment about any allegations against Bentley, but said state government has grown stagnant because of the scandal affecting the governor.

"We've got a lot of important issues with the state, from education, to prison reform," Marsh said.

"I would only ask that I hope that at the end of the day the governor would do what's best for the people of Alabama," Marsh said.

"If it means these things are pressing and it's going to continue to put the state under a cloud, if that's where we're headed, I hope the governor does what is best for the state and seriously considers stepping down."

When asked specifically if he thinks the governor should resign, Marsh said,

"With what I'm seeing, with the inability of the state to function, that's what I'm saying," Marsh said.

Marsh said the Senate would be ready if it has to conduct an impeachment trial of the governor but said he hoped it would not.

"I don't think it does us any good to have the House go through these impeachment proceedings," Marsh said. "I don't think it does the Senate any good or the people of the state any good to go through this type of a (impeachment) trial.

"This has gone on long enough."

The governor has denied wrongdoing.

Marsh made his comments during the routine press conference he gives when the Senate adjourns for the week. He was asked about the Ethics Commission decision and the Senate's preparation for a possible impeachment trial.

Marsh said he had not talked to Bentley in "weeks."

"I can tell you right now the governor is not being effective," Marsh said. "He is not being able to lead on important issues of this state from education to infrastructure to prisons."

Marsh has not publicly commented much about the Bentley scandal over the past year, generally saying he was focused on legislation and the Senate's work.

Jack Sharman, the special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee who is leading the committee's impeachment investigation, is scheduled to release a report on his investigation on Friday.

Impeachment hearings are scheduled to begin on Monday.

House Judiciary Chairman Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, told his colleagues on the House floor this morning to be prepared for a long week.

"It's going to be something that I wanted to make the members fully aware of," Jones said. "But we're at the point it's time to put this in front of us. Let's address it and then let's get it behind us."

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, asked today to respond to Marsh's call for Bentley to resign, said he would leave that up to Bentley.

"I could make suggestions all day long, but that's his decision," McCutcheon said.

"At the end of the day, the House has worked very hard to put in place a procedure for this impeachment and we are going to move forward as we have planned and make sure we do this the right way."

Updated at 2:44 p.m. with Bentley saying he has no plans to resign. Updated at 3:32 p.m. with comments from Speaker Mac McCutcheon.

