Tell Gov. Jan Brewer to follow the law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Rep. Chad Campbell has a message for Gov. Jan Brewer (and "shadow governor" Chuck Coughlin, who runs the governor's office while at the same time his lobbying firm lobbies on behalf of private prison clients).

One principle of governing is that elected leaders should follow the law.  It is a simple premise.

In Arizona, apparently not.

Republican and Democratic legislators enacted a state law requiring a bi-annual analysis to compare the cost to the taxpayer of private vs. public prisons.  Unfortunately, the state simply hasn’t followed the law.  What’s more, Governor Brewer and Republicans in the legislature are pushing to issue more contracts to out-of-state corporations without that cost analysis and in open violation of state law. 

That’s why I sent a letter to Governor Brewer and Department of Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan last week asking them to halt any new private prison construction until they comply with state law.  Rather than rushing to privatize our public safety, Governor Brewer should protect the taxpayers instead of out of state private prison companies and special interests. 

What’s even more astounding is that all of this is taking place after Arizona’s private prisons made national news for lax security and high-profile jailbreaks, one of which led to the tragic and avoidable murders of Gary and Linda Haas, an Oklahoma couple vacationing in New Mexico.

In fact, this week, Gary Haas’ mother testified at a public hearing of the Department of Corrections in opposition to new private prisons, stating:

"I've been through a lot of painful times in 81 years,” she said.  “Even surviving the terrible tornado that hit Joplin recently. But nothing compares to the pain of having my kids brutally murdered because MTC [Management and Training Corp] couldn't do its job of keeping criminals locked up."

Yet, despite that tragedy, despite the fact that Governor Brewer and Director Ryan are not following the law, and despite the data that shows private prisons are wasting taxpayer dollars, Republican leaders and Governor Brewer continue to push for more private prisons.

When the State is eliminating health care, cutting education and increasing our children’s class size, yet INCREASING money spent on private prisons, it’s time to stop the madness.  It’s time to stop lining the pockets of out-of-state private prison companies at the expense of children and Arizona taxpayers.

Please call the Governor today at 602.542.4331 or 1.800.253.0883 and tell her to follow the law.  It’s time to stop wasting our money on more private prisons that send our tax dollars out of state and produce failing facilities.

It’s the first step to restoring balance and accountability in Arizona.

Sincerely,

Chad Campbell
House Minority Leader