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You are here: Home / Legislature will discuss new state prison in new session

Legislature will discuss new state prison in new session

January 7, 2008 By admin

The 2008 Iowa Legislature is set to convene a week from today. One decision they’ll face is whether to build a new state prison. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says lawmakers will review a recommendation to replace the state’s maximum security prison.

"Everybody recognizes we have an antiquated prison in Fort Madison and it is time to replace it with a more modern, staff-efficient prison," Gronstal says. Lawmakers will be presented with a consultant’s report that also reviews the overcrowded women’s corrections system.

"I think we have a significant shortage of facilities for women offenders in this state and so I think we also need to make some changes at Mitchellville," Gronstal says. The state prison for women is in Mitchellville. Expansion of the existing system or even construction of a brand new prison is by no means a sure thing according to House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City.

"Whether or not we build a new prison — that’s something that may be debated, but frankly I don’t think that’s the top, pressing issue that we need to deal with," Rants says. Rants — the Republican leader — contends devising a fix for the state’s property tax system is a higher priority, while Gronstal — the Democratic leader — says maintaining progress on teacher pay and other education issues is at the top of the list for Democrats. Democrats hold a majority of seats in the legislature, so they get to set the debate agenda. 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Democratic Party, Legislature, Republican Party

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