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March 26, 2009
SC: Prisons would close without stimulus
25 March 2009
Harrell: Prisons would close without stimulus
House Speaker Bobby Harrell said Wednesday the Senate should write a budget that leaves out $350 million in federal stimulus money as Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman suggested Tuesday.
Without the federal funds, South Carolina would have to close three to four prisons, release an unknown number of prisoners and lay off 4,000 to 5,000 teachers, Harrell said. Harrell said the dire results fall squarely on Gov. Mark Sanford who has twice requested a portion of the stimulus money be used to pay down state debt instead of flow to schools and law enforcement agencies.
"I am very frustrated," Harrell said. "We're talking about affecting lives of people in this state in a very bad way."
The House used about $350 million in stimulus funds to offset cuts to colleges, K12 education and law enforcement in its version of the budget approved earlier this month.
http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2009/03/harrell-prisons-would-close-without-stimulus.html
Posted by lois at March 26, 2009 09:27 AM