TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Faced with opposition from Republicans and Democrats alike, Senate President Mike Haridopolos cut off debate Tuesday on a South Florida prison privatization plan that once seemed likely to be approved and now is being harshly criticized.
Haridopolos had to extend the time for debate after a series of harangues, ranging from questions about the real cost-savings to the possibility of thousands of prison employees losing their jobs in a still-sputtering economy. Finally, he postponed further discussion until Wednesday.
Senate budget chief JD Alexander and rules chair John Thrasher argued that prison privatization will offer savings that can be put toward hiring teachers and other public services.
Even some of their Republican colleagues said they didn't buy it. Nearly 4,000 prison workers' jobs in 26 facilities could be affected.
"They didn't prove to me — and I think they didn't prove to many members of the Senate — that there's a guarantee of savings," Sen. Mike Fasano said later.
The New Port Richey Republican submitted a list of amendments to the bill (SB 2038), including ensuring state corrections officers first shot at job in privatized prisons at the same salary and benefits and making sure populations at privately-run prisons mirror those at state prisons.
Another measure even killed privatization outright in favor of more legislative study.
Fasano, known as a maverick among Senate Republicans, wasn't alone.
Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican, said she wanted to see an analysis explaining exactly how prison privatization will save money. Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican, all but made fun of savings estimates that started at $22 million to 45 million and were revised down to $16.5 million.
The latest proposal excludes prison health services and the South Florida Reception Center, where inmates are classified by security risk.
Haridopolos was visibly angry after Tuesday's session.
"This bill is contentious and I recognize that," Haridopolos told reporters. "But I do take offense when people say a 'mere' 16.5 million dollars. This is a lot of money. That's 300 teachers' (salaries). I think that matters to people."
The Legislature first passed a South Florida prison-privatization plan last year. The Florida Police Benevolent Association, the union that formerly represented corrections officers, sued the state over it.
A judge ruled the plan was unconstitutional because it was approved as part of the annual budget and not as a separate law. Attorney General Pam Bondi is appealing the judge's decision. This year's legislation is intended to work around the judge's ruling.
"We have an obligation to the public good and the public good does not include privatizing our prisons," said Sen. Charlie Dean, an Inverness Republican and a former Citrus County sheriff. "I really respect the people who go out and do the job of dealing with people who are incarcerated."
Prison employees also are upset by Gov. Rick Scott's decision to narrow a $1 billion-plus budget gap by closing seven of the state's 62 prisons and four of its 46 work camps, potentially costing 1,300 workers their jobs. The state has about 14,000 more beds than prisoners.
A group of public employees, including corrections officer Penny Reeder, attended a union-sponsored rally at the Capitol earlier in the day. Reeder works at Florida State Prison, which is not part of any closing or privatization.
She has co-workers "in South Florida that are not going to have a job if this passes," Reeder said. "We are proud to do what we do."
Alexander, a Lake Wales Republican, said he appreciates the job all prison employees do.
"These are hard-working Floridians; my heart goes out for them," he said. "But how (else) do you balance a budget with a multi-billion dollar shortfall?" — suggesting the cuts have to start somewhere.
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