(IL) State panel approves sale of Illinois prison to house terrorism suspects

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib

A panel of lawmakers voted today in favor of letting Gov. Pat Quinn close a little-used prison in northwestern Illinois so the Obama administration can use it to hold terrorism suspects now held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The 7-4 vote by the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability was largely on party lines, with Democrats supporting the sale of the Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government and all but two Republicans opposed.

The vote was advisory and Quinn was expected to move ahead with the plan regardless.

Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., have promoted the plan as a way to bring federal money and jobs into an economically depressed part of the state, but Republicans say the idea is not though-out and could make Illinois a terrorist target.

"This is an area of the state which is thirsting for jobs," state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg said in casting a yes vote today.

Read more: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/01/state-panel-approves-sale-of-illinois-prison-to-house-terrorism-suspects.html