The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

While Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said he expected discussion on whether the new prison facility should be built in Fort Madison, no representative introduced such an amendment.

Rants, however, did propose an amendment that would not bond for the new facility -- which would obligate the state until 2027 -- but rather adopt a pay-as-you-go method. The amendment failed 43-50.

Southeast Iowa's Republicans supported the failed measure, and ultimately voted against the appropriations bills for myriad reasons.

"I still say that if they didn't raid this infrastructure fund for handling all the stuff the general fund should pay for, we could pay for this prison," said Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant.

He said the prison is estimated to cost $130 million, but by bonding for it, the total cost will be nearly double that amount. Heaton said just because he supported the amendment and vetoed the overall bill does not mean he is against building a new prison in Fort Madison.

"I had to vote against the bill because of the way they were spending money," Heaton said. "I felt what I had to say on the floor on my advocating to build this prison in Fort Madison.... There's just too much money for other things than what it's intending to do."

Rep. Tom Sands, R-Columbus Junction, also voted against the overall bill in part because of the non-infrastructure related items that get added into the bill.

"Both parties have done it," Sands said. "Collectively, as a body, we need to be more disciplined and say this fund is for infrastructure and not pork-barreling projects."

Sands said he also voted against the bill because it changed wording on how money will be allocated for county fairs. He said small counties like the ones he represents will lose out on one-third of its funding because it cannot compete with larger counties for that pool of money.

During the floor debate, Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, who managed the bill, said there are a number of legitimate reasons for notwithstanding language that can lead to earmarked projects like $80,000 for the Kimball Organ project. Among those, Cohoon listed funding for property acquisition, design projects and project managers.

Much of the debate centered on whether the state typically bonds for major infrastructure projects. Cohoon and Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk, said most major projects are bonded for, while many others argued the state has used cash since developing an infrastructure fund using gambling revenue.

"When it comes to large capital expenditures, ... my view is we have always used this type of funding mechanism for these type of projects," Wise said during the floor debate.

Rep. J. Scott Raecker, R-Urbandale, said during the debate the state's spending is the reason it doesn't have the ability to use cash.

Sands said during the debate, though, the prison project cost is 2 percent of the state's general fund budget, so the Legislature should be able to afford it.

"When you've got the ability to pay cash, why would you put it on the credit card and pay double? It doesn't make sense," Heaton said during the floor debate.

Cohoon said the $130 million project constitutes half of the prison infrastructure budget.
http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/riif-house-042608