- Facing a DOJ lawsuit over Alabama’s notoriously violent prisons, lawmakers began a special session on a $1.3 billion construction plan that would use federal pandemic relief funds to help pay for building massive new penitentiaries.
- The proposal will tap $400 million from the state’s share of the American Rescue Plan funds to help pay for construction on the new prisons.
- Chairman Nadler asked Treasury Secretary Yellen to “prevent the misuse of (American Rescue Plan) funding by any state, including Alabama” to build prisons.
Sahid Fawaz from Labor 411 writes:
“Republican politicians in Alabama are trying to steer COVID funds to build new prisons.
“Facing a Justice Department lawsuit over Alabama’s notoriously violent prisons, state lawmakers on Monday began a special session on a $1.3 billion construction plan that would use federal pandemic relief funds to pay part of the cost of building massive new lockups.
Gov. Kay Ivey has touted the plan to build three new prisons and renovate others as a partial solution to the state’s longstanding troubles in its prison system. The proposal would tap up to $400 million from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan funds to help pay for the construction.
‘It’s the right thing to do,’ Republican Sen. Greg Albritton said of the construction plan…”
See full story here.
Categories: Government, Politics
Economic Left 
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