Iowa Lawmakers to Consider Prison Funding

When the legislature convenes in January, two new lawmakers will head thecommittees which craft the budget for the state’s prisons. RepublicanRepresentative Lance Horbach, an insurance agent from Tama, will lead theHouse Committee that’ll tackle prison funding issues. Horbach will meet nextweek with state corrections department officials. The state built three newprisons in the past decade, but the number of prisoners still exceeds the”design capacity” — creating over-crowding. For example, three prisonerswill live in every two-person cell in the new space in Fort Dodge. Horbachis reluctant but willing to consider the idea of building another prison.Senator Jeff Angelo, a republican from Creston, will lead the SenateCommittee that will work on a budget for the state’s prison system.