BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The House budget committee is considering a Jindal administration proposal to sell three Louisiana prisons, but has already scrapped the governor’s idea of using the money to plug budget holes.
The Appropriations Committee on Monday was hearing the proposal, which Gov. Bobby Jindal offered as a way to drum up cash for next year’s budget. But the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jim Fannin, amended the bill to ensure any money generated by the sales couldn’t be used for ongoing operational expenses, only for one-time items.
Jindal calls the idea a way to save money, arguing private companies could run the prisons more cheaply. Critics question if the sale would damage public safety and boost state costs.
The House committee recessed, but was expected to resume debate Monday evening.