• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Legislators debate need for more prison staff

Legislators debate need for more prison staff

April 2, 2014 By O. Kay Henderson

Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa House disagree over how many prison guards are needed in the state’s correctional system.  Representative Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, supports spending another $2 million which he says would be enought to hire 33 new prison guards.

“Public safety is directly compromised when our overcrowded prisons are operating with critically low staffing levels,” Taylor said during House debate Tuesday.

Representative Gary Worthan, a Republican from Storm Lake, said there must be a cut elsewhere if there’s more spending on prison staff.

“The other part of this is that it’s a fallacy to believe that putting $2 million into the system is going to…hire 33 new corrections officers,” Worthan said during House debate. “It’s going to take more like $8 million.”

Representative Helen Miller, a Democrat from Fort Dodge, said workers at the state prison in her city are worried and it’s time to boost prison staffing.

“This is not a joke,” Miller said. “This is very, very, very, very serious and I think it’s time for the state of Iowa to take a look at those who protect all of us from the worst of us.”

Worthan, the Republican who led drafting of the budget for the prisons, said the deal House Republicans struck with Senate Democrats does not call for the additional spending and House Republicans voted down the two-million more for prison guards.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt

Featured Stories

Governor signs Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard into law

Jury returns guilty verdict in shooting death of State Trooper

A haboob, a dust storm black out, hits northwest Iowa

Summit has easements for 20% of carbon pipeline route through Iowa

Morel mushroom hunters on hold without warmer conditions

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa Special Olympics Summer games set to open in Ames

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/16/22

Iowa assistant coach Kirk Speraw to retire

Northern Iowa prepares for Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament

T.J. Otzelberger announces staff changes at Iowa State

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC