FL: Florida prison privatization stalls in legislature
FL: Private prisons gain new foes
MI: Michigan prison privatization effort stalls
NJ: Christie administration’s attack on N.J. State Parks begins
CA: Sacramento moves ahead on parking privatization
SD: State weighs ban on public sector collective bargaining
Congress kick-starts program to privatize airport screeners
News summaries
FL: Florida prison privatization stalls in legislature
A proposal to privatize at least 26 prisons in south Florida is facing stiff opposition in the Florida Senate and may not have the votes to pass, the chamber’s president and chief backer said on Tuesday. Chicago Tribune
FL: Private prisons gain new foes
There is new opposition tonight to a legislative plan to privatize more than two dozen south Florida prisons. The Florida ACLU is criticizing the profit motive as several studies fail to document that private prisons are cheaper or more effective. Studies of private prison costs and effectiveness are few and far between. One benchmark study by researcher Bill Bales at Florida State University examined a claim that privately held prisoners are less likely to reoffend. “Private prisons don’t effect recidivism” says Bales. The prison privatizing plan is now drawing opposition from the ACLU. Attorney David Shapiro argues private prisons put public safety at risk. “Private prisons have every incentive to maximize their profits but cutting corners even at the expense of decent conditions and public safety,” says Shapiro. Capitol News Service
MI: Michigan prison privatization effort stalls
Requests for proposals to privatize roughly $400 million in prison services were put on hold in January after a review by Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office revealed private contractors using prisoners for kitchen, janitorial and other duties. The Detroit News
NJ: Christie administration’s attack on N.J. State Parks begins
And yet the state’s plans include further privatization of Island Beach including apparently “life guards”. Something is wrong when we take New Jersey’s state parks and privatize them. The governor is giving away our most treasured assets. newjerseynewsroom.com
CA: Sacramento moves ahead on parking privatization
The Sacramento City Council decided to move ahead with their plan to privatize the city’s parking assets, without putting it on the ballot, in order to fund a new sports and entertainment arena, at Tuesday’s city council meeting. News10
SD: State weighs ban on public sector collective bargaining
South Dakota is considering a Wisconsin-style ban on public sector collective bargaining at all levels of government. But because many public workers have limited or nonexistent bargaining rights to begin with, the debate is causing considerable confusion. Stateline
Congress kick-starts program to privatize airport screeners
A provision in the just-passed FAA reauthorization bill requires TSA chief John Pistole to approve airport requests to privatize their screeners unless he determines it would harm security. That is likely to open the doors to further privatization, since Pistole has said private screening and government screening is “comparable.” Local 10