The Alabama Legislature approved the $ 1.3 billion prison blueprint and separate bill to steer $ 400 million of the state’s $ 2.1 billion bailout fund to help him to pay. MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) – Amid a national debate over the use of pandemic aid, Alabama lawmakers on Friday quickly approved a plan to draw $ 400 million from the U.S. bailout plan to help build two oversized prisons help and fend off congressional criticism Democrats that the money is not intended for such projects.
“This is a pivotal moment in the development of our state’s criminal justice system,” said Ivey.
With the legislative leaders behind her, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed the bills shortly thereafter. The Republican called the blueprint “a big step forward” for the prison system, which has faced various federal court orders and a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice.
President Joe Biden’s comprehensive $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package was signed in March, providing states and cities with a stream of funds to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Alabama’s plan to use nearly 20% of its US rescue funds to build prisons has been criticized by some Democrats in Congress, including Alabama MP Terri Sewell, who argued that this was not the intent of the aid program. However, the state Republicans argued that the spending was a public safety need and allowed under a provision to compensate for lost revenue and support government services.
Republican Senator Greg Albriton said the funds would “go a long way” in addressing the state’s longstanding problems in prisons.
“That was right for Alabama. We have a crumbling infrastructure. We put people in dirty places. We have people who work in unsafe conditions, ”said Albriton.
The plan met with resistance from many Democrats in the House of Representatives, but had minimal dissenting votes in the state Senate, where the Senators approved the use of the pandemic seal by 30-1 and the overall construction plan by 29-2.
“Here in Alabama there are many needs and there are many people who need these resources,” she said. “But they (Republicans) saw an opportunity to take Biden’s money, that $ 400 million, because it was like liquid water flowing through their hands and saying, ‘OK, let’s jump on it,'” “said Givan.
Birmingham Democratic MP Juandalynn Givan, who voted against the bills in the House of Representatives, said she hoped the federal government would step in and tell the state that the spending is not allowed.
US House Justice Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week urging her to “address the misuse of ARP funding by a state including Alabama prevent “to build prisons.
When asked about the Alabama plan on Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “I would be surprised if that were the intent of the funding.”
Republican legislators said they feel confident they can use the funds legally, as the American bailout plan, in addition to approving the dollars for economic and health programs, says states can use the money to raise the revenue lost during the pandemic replace to strengthen support for vital public services and help preserve jobs.
The US Department of Justice has sued Alabama over a prison system “riddled with prisoner-to-prisoner and guard-against-prisoner violence.” The Justice Department noted in a previous report that dilapidated facilities contributed to the unconstitutional situation, but wrote that “new facilities alone cannot solve the matter” due to cultural problems, poor management, corruption, violence and other issues.
The proposal to build a prison in Alabama calls for three new prisons – one in Elmore County with at least 4,000 beds and more space for medical and psychiatric care; another prison with at least 4,000 beds in Escambia County and a women’s prison – as well as renovations of existing facilities. Six current facilities would be closed.
The package of approved bills includes modest reform measures: the state will buy an empty private prison and house suspended offenders in it – instead of sending them back to prison – and offer rehabilitation programs there to combat relapse.
Stakeholders argued that the state needed to implement broader reforms.
Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said the blueprint was both “the right thing” and “helping the state with the DOJ with the other litigation”.
“The Alabama Legislature has demonstrated its determination to spend $ 400 million from the American Rescue Plan on building two mega-prisons despite having one of the highest COVID death rates in the world,” said Katie Glenn, Policy Associate with the SPLC Action Fund. a branch of the Southern Poverty Law Center. “It won’t have the? Problems?” that plague the prison system, only release can do that. “
News highlights business
- Alabama Legislators Approve Prison Construction Plan With COVID-19 Money | News, sports, jobs
- Check out all the news and articles from the business news updates.
Disclaimer: If you need to update / edit this article, please visit our Help Center.
For the latest updates, follow us on GÖÖGle news
