|
|
| Private Prison Pacts Pulled in Mississippi |
| By The Clarion-Ledger |
| Published: 07/15/2002 |
|
Mississippi officials say the state doesn't have the money to pay private companies to run prisons and is terminating management contracts at five facilities. In letters sent to the prisons on June 28, the Mississippi Department of Corrections said Gov. Ronnie Musgrove on April 9 vetoed a $54.7 million appropriation, part of a larger bill, for the private prisons. The contracts between MDOC and the management companies say the state has the right to terminate the agreements without penalty if funds are not appropriated. But Attorney General Mike Moore said governor's partial veto is meaningless because he never had the power to issue it, and the money is still there. He called the reasoning behind the attempt to take over management of the prisons 'bogus.' 'The Supreme Court says the governor cannot veto just the way money is to be spent,' said Moore, whose office issued an opinion declaring the veto null and void. Musgrove said he issued the veto - which the Legislature never moved to override - because language in the appropriations bill prevented Corrections Commissioner Robert Johnson from moving money to other areas of the budget. Some lawmakers said it is possible an injunction may be filed to prevent MDOC from taking over the private facilities and voiding the contracts. The private prisons are in Marshall, Wilkinson and Leflore counties and in Meridian and Walnut Grove. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think