The Arizona Republic reported today that the Senate Appropriations Committee took out the $900,000 in additional funding for private prisons as requested by House Appropriations Chair John Kavanagh for his friends at GEO Group:
Nearly $1 million in additional funding for private prisons was removed from the state budget today, following an uproar of criticism from Arizonans.
The Senate Appropriations Committee took out $900,000 in excess funds the House last week had earmarked for GEO Group Inc., which is expected to receive $45 million this fiscal year for providing minimum- and medium-security beds in Phoenix and Florence.
The company has contracts with the state that guarantees at least a 95 percent occupancy rate, virtually ensuring the company a profit for operating its prisons in Arizona.
Finally: Sanity in Arizona 1, Crazyland Lege 0
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2014.
“They’re asking for a little restoration of what they’re supposed to be getting” And he thinks it is “the decent thing to do”. Too bad he is not talking about public school funding. This guy is one of the absolute worst of the whole bunch.
Until all of the budget bills are on the governor’s desk and she signs them, this report is and will continue to be premature.