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Prison Privitization Measure Headed To Budget Panel
January 21, 2012
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Friday he will send a controversial prison-privatization plan to another committee for review — but stopped short of fulfilling a request by Sen. Mike Fasano for greater scrutiny.
Fasano, R-New Port Richey, sent a letter to Haridopolos arguing that bills dealing with the privatization plan are of “such a magnitude” that they deserve to be heard by three committees that focus on criminal-justice and government-oversight issues.
“In my opinion a subject as complex as prison privatization should have been referred to the substantive committees that oversee this subject matter (i.e. Criminal Justice, Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations),” wrote Fasano, chairman of the Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. “The Senate has a rich history as a deliberative body that examines and allows for full vetting of proposed policy changes both major and minor.”
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, released a memo a short time later saying he would send the primary privatization bill (SB 2038) to the Budget Committee, which is chaired by Sen. JD Alexander, a chief proponent of privatization. Until that announcement, the bill had only been assigned to the Rules Committee.
In the memo, Haridopolos said he decided to “proceed in an abundance of caution” after hearing concerns from senators about the issue, which would lead to privatizing prisons in 18 counties in the southern half of the state. But he also defended his handling of the plan, saying it was fully considered and approved by the Senate during the 2011 legislative session.
Lawmakers included the privatization plan in the fine print of the 2011-12 budget. But a Leon County circuit judge rejected that decision, saying such a plan had to be approved in state law.
Haridopolos and Alexander, R-Lake Wales, say the plan would save tens of millions of dollars for the state, though it is vehemently opposed by correctional officers.
In defending his handling of the issue, Haridopolos also said in the memo that he had “authored an opinion piece stating my position that it is paramount that we prioritize our state’s spending by privatizing prisons, which has the potential to save a minimum of 22 million taxpayer dollars that I firmly believe are better spent on education, health care and economic development.”
The Senate Rules Committee is scheduled to take up the issue Monday, and Haridopolos’ memo said it will go to the Budget Committee on Wednesday.
By The News Service of Florida
Comments
4 Responses to “Prison Privitization Measure Headed To Budget Panel”
You know, we keep thinking of this as being private prisons housing thousands of inmates. We could have fun with it, though.
Auctioneer:
“What am I bid to take custody of the following prisoner, Number 61?
“Who’ll do it for a thousand dollars less than that?
“Who’ll do it for a thousand dollars less than that?
“Going once, going twice, SOLD custody to the gentleman in the rear, Number 84 for ten thousand dollars per year. Please pick up your killer on the way out.
Next up is – - – ”
People with extra living quarters could house inmates at a substantial savings over that of building multi-million dollar structures with guards, doctors, nurses, cooks, what have you. Retirees and unemployed people could take responsibility for an inmate or two. Even existing correctional officers might make as much money taking in a few on the side.
Sure, it wouldn’t work for all inmates but with proper monitoring it might easily take over half to two thirds. There wouldn’t be any huge lobby to worry about. The inmates would not be around too many other inmates since houses tend not to hold too many. With the alternative of less comfortable conditions, many might behave properly.
Okay, I know it’s similar in concept to half way houses and such-like, but just ponder it. Ask yourself how many inmates you would be willing to care for and how much you would have to charge for the responsibility.
David for alternatives
where feasible
This will not save Florida ANY Money. In fact it is going to raise the cost of keeping prisoners while sending millions of dollars to the Corporation that has taken over prisons across the US. Just ask Mississippi how much the cost of their prison system went up once they became privatized. Not good for the citizens of Florida of the U.S.
I’m not really sure how all this politics stuff works. Privatizing prisons might save taxpayers money and the money can be used for education, health care, and economic development, but what good is that if the money doesn’t make it there and it is used to stuff some fat greedy politician’s pocket. The only reason I would say yes to this is for education(and the lotto was to be used for this…joke). Health care, well there is plenty of this, its billing that needs to be under control. Economic development, well what do they think a building a prison, expanding a prison, and hiring more CO’s is. Like I said, I’m not to smart when it comes to this stuff, but I know a scam when I see one and that is what this is.
Here comes the good ole boys and payoffs. Its all politics, the tax payers pay,and there is no morals for the elected crooks. Same old same old!