NPR On Brewer And Private Prisons

[Bobbieo]

Investigative piece reveals impact of governor's close ties to corrections lobbyists

PHOENIX – This morning, National Public Radio aired an investigative story that delved further into Gov. Brewer's close ties to the private prison industry, the Corrections Corporation of America, and state Sen. Russell Pearce.

The story is revealing and disturbing. And it confirms what we’ve long suspected – that Brewer is not in charge, the lobbyists are. And they're in it for the money. Not for public safety. And not for border security.

In fact, two major private prison corporations -- Corrections Corporation of America and The Geo Group -- gave a combined $87,500 to the Republican Governors Association (RGA) within 60 days of Brewer signing SB1070. RGA has put significant resources into Arizona this election cycle to help elect Jan Brewer.

Brewer’s governing office AND campaign office are overrun with lobbyists. And she is letting them run Arizona, shape our laws and control decisions that affect the lives of our hard-working citizens.

Failed leadership. Wrong priorities. It's time to fire Jan Brewer.

*Learn more about the AZ GOP "Slippery Slate."

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[peacebird]

1. k & r - LINK HERE - NPR also mentioned that the bill was written by "ALEC"

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130833741

"It was last December at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. Inside, there was a meeting of a secretive group called the American Legislative Exchange Council. Insiders call it ALEC.

It's a membership organization of state legislators and powerful corporations and associations, such as the tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., ExxonMobil and the National Rifle Association. Another member is the billion-dollar Corrections Corporation of America — the largest private prison company in the country.

It was there that Pearce's idea took shape."

[mediaman007]

2. I heard the report this morning. It was chilling!

Once again the Republicans are hypocrites. The scream and holler about getting rid of earmarks because the earmarks are not the process that the founders wanted in the Constitution, then they let corporations write legislation that remains unchanged before it becomes law. We are probably so far down the line to Fascism that there is no returning. Well I know its here so I can protect all that is mine, but I feel sorry for the Teabaggers, who will be surprised when they discover that they've been had.

[jonthebru]

3. The State Of Hawaii sends a lot of prisoners to the Mainland.

I wonder if private Prison Corporations lobbied for the action to do that. I remember the argument was purely economic. The Union Prison employees cost to much so off the convicts were sent.
I thought this was a very redeeming NPR story. This information is not new actually but NPR brings it to the mainstream. We will see if other MSM pick up on it...