Bill to privatize prisons dies in Senate [View all]
Bill to privatize prisons dies in Senate
After the Senate vote, the state will not undertake what would’ve been the greatest expansion of prison privatization in U.S. history.
BY STEVE BOUSQUET
TALLAHASSEE -- A massive expansion of private prisons in Florida collapsed in the Senate Tuesday as nine Republicans joined a dozen Democrats in handing a setback to Senate leaders and a victory to state workers.
As a result, the state will not undertake what would have been the single greatest expansion of prison privatization in U.S. history, affecting 27 prisons and work camps in 18 counties and displacing more than 3,500 correctional officers.
Senate leaders immediately said they would have to cut education and healthcare programs by $16.5 million, the amount privatization would have saved in the first year.
The 21-19 Senate vote reinforced the chamber’s long-standing reputation for independence, as it has shown over the years on many issues, from abortion rights to immigration to the Terri Schiavo case.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/14/2642075/bill-to-privatize-prisons-dies.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
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