Senate approves capital bill without removing bad private prison deal

Dec. 20, 2006 - Despite public opposition, last night the Ohio Senate approved the $1.76 billion capital appropriations bill which included a prison privatization mandate. It's anticipated that the House will concur today before sending the bill to the governor's desk for his signature.

OCSEA leaders appreciate the hundreds of emails and phone calls union members made to oppose this give-away from outgoing lawmakers to private prison contractors.

The proposal to require Ohio to maintain two private prisons surfaced earlier this month in the biennial capital appropriations bill.

For nearly two weeks, OCSEA members have been warning legislators that this privatization deal:

• Does nothing to make government more efficient, reduce waste, or protect the public trust;
• Reduces the state's authority and flexibility to manage resources; and
• Encourages cronyism and corruption related to state government contracts.

Despite Ohio's history of problems with private prison contractors and prison funding, this new mandate is irresponsibly rigid. It requires that both prisons be maintained, regardless of how well the contractor performs. According to the bill, the state can only take over operation of the private prisons if there are no willing private vendors who bid on the job.

Also, it would exempt the private prisons from ever being considered for closure during a funding crisis or a decline in inmate population.