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Gov. Scott Will Explore Ways To Privatize Prisons Without Law Change
February 17, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will explore opportunities to privatize state prisons on his own following the Senate’s defeat of a bill that would have required some prisons be bid out to private companies.
Speaking to reporters Thursday morning after a public event on insurance fraud, Scott acknowledged that initially he didn’t consider privatizing prisons a priority, but was disappointed the Senate voted down a bill that would have done that, and said he’ll explore what many backers of the Senate plan said was a possibility – that the governor could order privatization unilaterally.
“It wasn’t something that was one of my legislative session priorities this year, but here’s what I think about it,” Scott said. “I got elected to hold government accountable, to not waste taxpayers’ money. So here was an opportunity that the Senate had to give us the opportunity to save a significant amount of money….. I’m disappointed the Senate didn’t do that. I’m going to look at what I have the opportunity to do. …I’m going to make sure that we don’t waste money.”
Scott pointed out that there are fewer inmates than anticipated and that it didn’t make sense to spend state dollars on half-full prisons.
“Why wouldn’t we save that money and put the money into education, into textbooks, and to make sure we have the right health care safety net instead of spending the money where we don’t need to?” Scott said.
The Senate earlier this week voted 21-19 against a bill that would have required privatization of most of the prison facilities in an 18-county area from roughly Tampa Bay south. The bill would have required prison operators to guarantee savings of $16.5 million a year immediately in order to get the bid, though many opponents said they didn’t believe the savings would materialize.
A coalition of senators from both parties, including those who represent lots of prison guards, to those who said they didn’t trust the savings figures, to those who said they worried about turning over a critical safety function to the private sector, opposed the bill, which was a top priority of the Republican leadership in the Senate.
Scott’s jump into the controversy – after months of refusing to answer directly what his position was on the idea – drew immediate criticism from the opponents of privatization, including the union that currently represents most state corrections officers.
“The Senate reflected the will of the citizens of Florida when it voted to kill prison privatization,” said Ken Wood, acting president of Teamsters Local 2011, which represents about 20,000 correctional officers in the state. “Floridians do not want the rules changed so private companies can get secret contracts with no cost-benefit analysis and no public review.”
The House never got a chance to vote on the issue.
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said Thursday when asked what he thought about Scott taking the lead on the issue that he would defer to the governor and if Scott pursued it, he would likely support him.
“That’s totally his call,” Cannon said. “I’ve said that my personal view is that privatization is one component of reconfiguring our criminal justice system asset. It’s not a panacea … But the bill died in the Senate, so I think as a legislative matter it’s dead. I would defer entirely to him if he chooses to pursue it, I would be inclined to respect his judgment.”
Comments
9 Responses to “Gov. Scott Will Explore Ways To Privatize Prisons Without Law Change”
Wow, what a slap in the face to the people of Florida. Take time to thank your local Representatives that stood against this.
Rick Scott figured out how to steal money from the federal Gov. w/o going to jail. A little thing like violating the law dose not bother him. He will get his way in the end, and the mess and expense caused by this privatization thing of his will have to be fixed when we get a new Governor.
Just like every other political position.
Who is next for Governor?
AMAZING! The good people tell their Representatives that Prison Privatization is not in the best interest of Florida and when those Representatives vote the will of the People Governor Scott blows them off and tries to circumvent the people of Florida. Some Governor he is nothing but a bully out to line his own pockets. Four years of Rick Scott could ruin Florida if “we the people,” don’t keep on our toes and the toes of our Representatives. I suggest we keep our Representatives’ name on speed dial and keep reminding them that they work for us. As for Rick Scott, I think he knows he is a one term, one term only Governor and that is why he is trying to fill his pockets as quickly as he can.
I believe he is just blowing smoke. A judge initially shot this down. Then the legislature killed it. And Rick Scott is currently under an investigation by the ethics commission for drawing up this legislation after taking nearly one million dollars in campaign contributions from Geo and CCA. Yes, if you didn’t know that, a motion was just filed by scotts legal team to to dismiss the investigation, and a judge denied the motion, and the investigation is continuing. It can’t possibly be in his best interest to keep pursuing this.
In other words……he didn’t get the answer he liked so he is going to bypass the law…..works for our president.
got his heart set on it, don’t he?
” “That’s totally his call,” Cannon said.”
If the speaker of the House thinks the House has no say, he has unique qualifications to “lead” the House of Representatives that don’t actually involve leading.
David not caring but thinking
they should have SOME say
since they’re called Representatives
Scott will have a hard time getting his prison won,ts put it place. The correction officers did the best thing for themselves when they chose to allow the Teamsters Union to represent them.
Its a shame that the sign at the state line was replaced. I think scott earned the name that was on the ols sign.
Oh, common folks, the Governor is not collecting a paycheck on your dime…yet. Just let em privatize a few prisons so he can get those big bullies at GEO off his back. He promised them contracts in exchange for kickbacks and political campaignf unding. Dont make him look like a liar to the big corporations or he’ll never get this state right. LOL, RICK SCOTT WHATAJOKE!