New Hampshire's legislature and governor have been looking to privatize much, if not all, of the state's prison system for the past few months. The state submitted a request for proposals in April, and in May announced a new proposal to send all male prisoners to private facilities.
Apparently not content with just considering prison privatization proposals, New Hampshire wants to partially privatize the process of figuring out the bids. The state expects the process to take about 2.5 months and is seeking technical assistance to sort through the plethora of information they'll receive responsive to the request for proposals. The consultant, the only one who bid, was just awarded a contract for nearly $175,000. The state had actually asked 3 other companies to bid, but they all declined. A spokesperson for one of the companies that turned down the state said they did so because they didn't want to be involved in a process where "the job would go to the lowest bidder." I'm sure this in no way could lead to a conflict of interest or poor decision-making by the state.
CCA and MTC appear to be at the forefront of the cash grab; CCA is looking into 3 sites, and MTC seems pretty competitive in the bidding process. Folks in New Hampshire are becoming a little frustrated with the process and its lack of transparency; an agency within the executive branch has the authority to award the contract with little to no public discussion of the potential risks and ramifications. This is especially troubling given the industry's propensity to not save money and have higher rates of incidents like assaults, escapes, and other security issues.
I hate anyone who makes a profit by incarcerating human beings.
Showing posts with label conflict of interest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conflict of interest. Show all posts
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Arizona's Political Leaders Are Crazy for Private Prisons
I've been remiss in updating everyone on the situation in Arizona, the state that loves private prisons, even though it's likely paying more for them than what the government could operate facilities for. After a few reports came out detailing how the state was paying through the nose for private prisons, its legislature continued to bullishly forge ahead with a request for proposals to construct an additional 2,000 private prison beds. This came despite evidence that private prisons in the state cost more and are more dangerous; the American Friends Service Committee filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to prevent the state from entering into a new contract for these beds. But it was thrown out on a technicality; the judge basically said that citizens of Arizona have no standing to ask the Department of Corrections to follow the law.
So the AFSC and the NAACP joined together in filing a formal protest asking the court put a stop to the request for proposals, which came alongside a piece of legislation designed to prevent the state from conducting cost comparisons in the future. The Department of Corrections swiftly dismissed the request, again on a technicality basically amounting to "we don't want to listen to socially conscious organizations working in the best interest of Arizona citizens." The state seems to be quite insistent on these new private prison beds, possibly because its politicians have long had cozy relationships with the industry. From SB1070, which came out of ALEC, to the governor's staff consisting of CCA lobbyists, Arizona politicians and the private prison industry are well acquainted. In fact, Dennis Deconcini, a former senator from the state, sits on CCA's board. And it appears as though the state's Chamber of Commerce is rife with conflicts of interest related to the industry; CCA, the GEO Group, and PHS are all represented on the board of the Chamber, either directly or through lobbying firms.
So it seems like Arizona's political leaders are really just oblivious to common sense and the advice of groups who have thoroughly studied the problems inherent to the private prison industry. I want to believe that, rather than the alternative, which would be that they just don't care about how terrible and inefficient the industry is, because they want to give handouts to their political allies. As Sasha Abramsky at The Nation writes, "One might think that, faced with evidence that the state isn't getting enough bang for its buck, Arizona legislators would rethink their commitment to putting ever mroe prisoners into private facilities. Instead, in a move Orwellian even by the gutter standards of Arizona politics, they've simply tried to bar the state from collecting the evidence."
With all the news about the state attempting to further privatize its prison system, it might have been easy to overlook the state's decision to bring in a private, for-profit medical care provider, Wexford, to manage healthcare for the entire system. Which is just another clusterfuck waiting to happen. The company will charge more than the state paid last year to provide healthcare this year, and estimates it will reap of profit of more than $5 million in the process. I'm sure none of that will come from denying treatment or neglecting prisoners.
So the AFSC and the NAACP joined together in filing a formal protest asking the court put a stop to the request for proposals, which came alongside a piece of legislation designed to prevent the state from conducting cost comparisons in the future. The Department of Corrections swiftly dismissed the request, again on a technicality basically amounting to "we don't want to listen to socially conscious organizations working in the best interest of Arizona citizens." The state seems to be quite insistent on these new private prison beds, possibly because its politicians have long had cozy relationships with the industry. From SB1070, which came out of ALEC, to the governor's staff consisting of CCA lobbyists, Arizona politicians and the private prison industry are well acquainted. In fact, Dennis Deconcini, a former senator from the state, sits on CCA's board. And it appears as though the state's Chamber of Commerce is rife with conflicts of interest related to the industry; CCA, the GEO Group, and PHS are all represented on the board of the Chamber, either directly or through lobbying firms.
So it seems like Arizona's political leaders are really just oblivious to common sense and the advice of groups who have thoroughly studied the problems inherent to the private prison industry. I want to believe that, rather than the alternative, which would be that they just don't care about how terrible and inefficient the industry is, because they want to give handouts to their political allies. As Sasha Abramsky at The Nation writes, "One might think that, faced with evidence that the state isn't getting enough bang for its buck, Arizona legislators would rethink their commitment to putting ever mroe prisoners into private facilities. Instead, in a move Orwellian even by the gutter standards of Arizona politics, they've simply tried to bar the state from collecting the evidence."
With all the news about the state attempting to further privatize its prison system, it might have been easy to overlook the state's decision to bring in a private, for-profit medical care provider, Wexford, to manage healthcare for the entire system. Which is just another clusterfuck waiting to happen. The company will charge more than the state paid last year to provide healthcare this year, and estimates it will reap of profit of more than $5 million in the process. I'm sure none of that will come from denying treatment or neglecting prisoners.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Pay to Play
Two interesting pieces here regarding the influence the private prison industry wield in its political affiliations and activities. Most of the reason the industry has been so successful in securing contracts despite decades of failing to perform is the cozy relationship it has cultivated with state and federal officials who control the disbursement of public funds and criminal justice sentencing. They cultivate these relationships through donating to individual politicians and various campaigns they embark upon, but also through hiring professional lobbyists to promote their will while the legislature is in session.
Lobbyists often have great access to politicians, and in many cases either come directly from government or head there after leaving the lobbying business. By utilizing lobbyists to advocate for their interests, the private prison industry is able to simultaneously amplify their voice within the legislature, and to some extent prevent the public from knowing just exactly who and what is influencing political decisions.
In Arizona, for example, I have reported extensively on the ties between Governor Brewer's office and a huge lobbying firm that works for CCA, Highground Consulting. Highground's manager, Chuck Coughlin, is the governor's chief of staff, and one of its principal lobbyists used to work for CCA (and his wife still does). To make the situation worse, the chair of the state's appropriations committee (that would be the committee that controls public funds), John Kavanagh, looks to be quite close with the GEO Group, the country's second-biggest private prison company. Public Policy Partners, an Arizona lobbying firm that GEO employs, donated at least 6 times to Kavanagh in the last election.
Is it any wonder this is the same state that passed an immigration bill that's essentially a handout to private prison companies, or that they're looking to privatize an additional 5,000 prison beds?
Meanwhile, over in Tennessee, state Republican representatives are coming under fire for participating in a fundraiser while the legislature was in session, that featured some of the biggest industries with a financial stake in Tennessee's politics (fundraisers during the legislative session are supposed to be illegal). Among the businesses represented was CCA, which is headquartered in Nashville. They were so willing to help raise funds for state Republicans because the new Republican governor recently used the budget as an excuse to reverse a decision to close a CCA prison.
Lobbyists often have great access to politicians, and in many cases either come directly from government or head there after leaving the lobbying business. By utilizing lobbyists to advocate for their interests, the private prison industry is able to simultaneously amplify their voice within the legislature, and to some extent prevent the public from knowing just exactly who and what is influencing political decisions.
In Arizona, for example, I have reported extensively on the ties between Governor Brewer's office and a huge lobbying firm that works for CCA, Highground Consulting. Highground's manager, Chuck Coughlin, is the governor's chief of staff, and one of its principal lobbyists used to work for CCA (and his wife still does). To make the situation worse, the chair of the state's appropriations committee (that would be the committee that controls public funds), John Kavanagh, looks to be quite close with the GEO Group, the country's second-biggest private prison company. Public Policy Partners, an Arizona lobbying firm that GEO employs, donated at least 6 times to Kavanagh in the last election.
Is it any wonder this is the same state that passed an immigration bill that's essentially a handout to private prison companies, or that they're looking to privatize an additional 5,000 prison beds?
Meanwhile, over in Tennessee, state Republican representatives are coming under fire for participating in a fundraiser while the legislature was in session, that featured some of the biggest industries with a financial stake in Tennessee's politics (fundraisers during the legislative session are supposed to be illegal). Among the businesses represented was CCA, which is headquartered in Nashville. They were so willing to help raise funds for state Republicans because the new Republican governor recently used the budget as an excuse to reverse a decision to close a CCA prison.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Conflict of Interest? I'd Say So.
Matt Lundy, a state representative from Ohio who has provided a solid voice of reason and healthy doses of skepticism in the recent discussions regarding privatizing more of the state's prison system, is keeping up his good work. Recently, Mr. Lundy pointed out that the new director of the state DOC, Gary Mohr, could potentially face a conflict of interest in the selling process, considering he used to work for CCA.
Mr. Lundy has called for the Ohio legislature to set ground rules for conflicts of interest of this type and scale. Thankfully, Mr. Mohr has already recused himself from direct oversight of the proposed sale, though his official responsibilities toward it remain murky.
Of course, some other jerk politician (Carlo LoParo) in the legislature called Mr. Lundy's request for rules regarding conflicts of interest "playing politics." In fact, Mr. LoParo, this is pretty much the exact opposite. Mr. Lundy merely wants to ensure that Mr. Mohr is not abusing his political position due to his former association with a company that could become involved in a multiple-hundred million dollar transaction with the state. That's not "playing politics." It's called being a responsible and accountable elected official. You should look into that.
Mr. Lundy has called for the Ohio legislature to set ground rules for conflicts of interest of this type and scale. Thankfully, Mr. Mohr has already recused himself from direct oversight of the proposed sale, though his official responsibilities toward it remain murky.
Of course, some other jerk politician (Carlo LoParo) in the legislature called Mr. Lundy's request for rules regarding conflicts of interest "playing politics." In fact, Mr. LoParo, this is pretty much the exact opposite. Mr. Lundy merely wants to ensure that Mr. Mohr is not abusing his political position due to his former association with a company that could become involved in a multiple-hundred million dollar transaction with the state. That's not "playing politics." It's called being a responsible and accountable elected official. You should look into that.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Blatant Conflict of Interest
State Senator Joe Negron serves in Florida, which has a part-time legislature with a salary of about $30,000 per year. Which means that the state legislators often have other jobs to support themselves. Joe Negron happens to be an attorney, and a pretty well-established one at that, because one of his clients is the GEO Group. I'm sure there won't be any question as to his impartiality in deciding any matters related to prison privatization....
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ponte Takes the Next Step
Former CCA Warden Joe Ponte has been endorsed by a legislative committee in Maine, part of his confirmation process after being nominated by new Governor Paul LePage. Now, all he needs to be appointed Maine's next secretary of Corrections is approval from the state Senate.
Thankfully though, he'll sell his shares of CCA if confirmed. So I'm sure he won't in any way encourage privatization of the state system....
UPDATE: It's official, the Maine Senate has confirmed former CCA warden Joe Ponte to be Maine's next Commissioner of Corrections. Effing awesome.
Thankfully though, he'll sell his shares of CCA if confirmed. So I'm sure he won't in any way encourage privatization of the state system....
UPDATE: It's official, the Maine Senate has confirmed former CCA warden Joe Ponte to be Maine's next Commissioner of Corrections. Effing awesome.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A Word of Caution
Title link goes to an excellent and well-reasoned article expressing skepticism over the purported economic values of bringing a private prison to town. The article focuses on the town of Milo, Maine, where CCA unsuccessfully attempted to pitch a prison to local officials a few years ago. Maine's new governor, Paul LePage, a business friendly super-conservative jerk who loves privatization (don't they all?), has renewed a push to bring CCA to Milo, touting all the great benefits like jobs and tax revenue the facility could bring. Apparently he ignored the report of the Congressional Research Service, released this past April, which found that "prisons may not generate the nature and scale of benefits municipalities anticipate or may even slow growth in some localities.” But I guess those sorts of things matter little to someone who just wants to help his business pals make a few extra bucks (especially when CCA donates $25,000 to your campaign).
Thankfully though this article introduces a strong dose of cynicsm into the debate. It highlights some cases where the economic benefits promised by private prison operators never quite materialized (which is basically everywhere). The author also discusses alot of the potential ramifications of privatization, such as the horrendous human rights abuses that take place in the facilities. So hopefully, Mainers will recognize this pitch by the new governor as a thinly-veiled attempt to steer state tax dollars to a company that donated heavily to his campaign. Which is exactly what this is.
Thankfully though this article introduces a strong dose of cynicsm into the debate. It highlights some cases where the economic benefits promised by private prison operators never quite materialized (which is basically everywhere). The author also discusses alot of the potential ramifications of privatization, such as the horrendous human rights abuses that take place in the facilities. So hopefully, Mainers will recognize this pitch by the new governor as a thinly-veiled attempt to steer state tax dollars to a company that donated heavily to his campaign. Which is exactly what this is.
What The Eff?
It just blows my mind sometimes how ridiculous the conflicts of interest in politics can be. Governor Brewer in Arizona created a Commission to study ways to reduce the budget, called the Commission on Privatization and Efficiency. Basically, it's a way for conservative Arizona politicians to legitimize their attempts to undermine government agencies and transfer money from the public sector to their private-sector pals.
So this commission on privatization was comprised of, among other people:
1) A former Senior Director of State and Customer relations for CCA
2) The outgoing president of the Arizona Senate, who received campaign contributions from both CCA and GEO, and who also happens to be the Arizona Public Sector chair of ALEC. ALEC has a very strong contingent of Arizona legislators, and CCA is a major player in what has been called "Corporate America's Trojan Horse."
3) President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, of which CCA is a "Board Level" Corporate member
Shockingly, this commission recommended, wait for it, that Arizona PRIVATIZE MORE of its prisons. You know, despite the fact that private prisons in Arizona are unsafe, unsecure, and don't save money.
I apologize, because I'm about to break my tradition of a PG-rated blog,
but this is completely fucking absurd!
It is ludicrous that these asshats are the ones directing policy in Arizona. I hate you, Arizona Commission on Privatization and Efficiency, the hypocrisy in your name and mission, and the ignorant moron of a governor that created you.
It is exactly this sort of absurd conservative political manipulation that has caused our country to lead the world far and away in rates of incarceration. If anyone remains unconvinced that our prison system is simply a cash cow for private corporate interests, his head is clearly buried in the sand. This is little more than corporatocracy masquerading as legitimate government. It is corruption and a conflict of interest to the highest degree. These greedy assholes are the reason our justice system is a joke to the rest of the world.
So this commission on privatization was comprised of, among other people:
1) A former Senior Director of State and Customer relations for CCA
2) The outgoing president of the Arizona Senate, who received campaign contributions from both CCA and GEO, and who also happens to be the Arizona Public Sector chair of ALEC. ALEC has a very strong contingent of Arizona legislators, and CCA is a major player in what has been called "Corporate America's Trojan Horse."
3) President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, of which CCA is a "Board Level" Corporate member
Shockingly, this commission recommended, wait for it, that Arizona PRIVATIZE MORE of its prisons. You know, despite the fact that private prisons in Arizona are unsafe, unsecure, and don't save money.
I apologize, because I'm about to break my tradition of a PG-rated blog,
but this is completely fucking absurd!
It is ludicrous that these asshats are the ones directing policy in Arizona. I hate you, Arizona Commission on Privatization and Efficiency, the hypocrisy in your name and mission, and the ignorant moron of a governor that created you.
It is exactly this sort of absurd conservative political manipulation that has caused our country to lead the world far and away in rates of incarceration. If anyone remains unconvinced that our prison system is simply a cash cow for private corporate interests, his head is clearly buried in the sand. This is little more than corporatocracy masquerading as legitimate government. It is corruption and a conflict of interest to the highest degree. These greedy assholes are the reason our justice system is a joke to the rest of the world.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
More on the Revolving Door at the USMS
An excellent piece from the Daily Kos regarding a shining example of revolving-door politics; the nomination of Stacia Hylton, who has worked in high-level positions with both CCA and the GEO Group, to head the US Marshal's Service.
Despite the fact that Obama has pledged to work to shut the revolving door between industry leadership and government, Ms. Hylton has been nominated to lead an agency responsible for a sizeable portion of the income of the industry she has worked in for years. Unfortunately, the process has been mostly favorable to Ms. Hylton, whose work with private prison operators was largely ignored in Committee hearings. Her nomination has been passed on to the full Senate for approval. Sigh.
Despite the fact that Obama has pledged to work to shut the revolving door between industry leadership and government, Ms. Hylton has been nominated to lead an agency responsible for a sizeable portion of the income of the industry she has worked in for years. Unfortunately, the process has been mostly favorable to Ms. Hylton, whose work with private prison operators was largely ignored in Committee hearings. Her nomination has been passed on to the full Senate for approval. Sigh.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Blatant Conflict of Interest
You really can't make this stuff up. Harry Coates, a state senator from Oklahoma, is having an affair with a lobbyist. Right, no surprise there. It gets a little thorny however when one learns that the lobbyist he is sleeping with, 29-year-old Haley Atwood, works for a company (Rite of Passage) that recently won a $10 million per year contract to operate a new private juvenile detention center. A contract that Coates was instrumental in helping to secure. Of course, both parties claim the affair has nothing to do with Coates' support of the contract. Sure, a 60 year old state senator and a woman less than half his age would only be in it for the love, right?
Thankfully, though, the awarding of the contract has been delayed. Apparently, their relationship could have led to the bidding process being rigged. I'm stunned.
UPDATE: The Oklahoma Attorney General is reviewing how the contract came to be awarded to Rite of Passage.
Thankfully, though, the awarding of the contract has been delayed. Apparently, their relationship could have led to the bidding process being rigged. I'm stunned.
UPDATE: The Oklahoma Attorney General is reviewing how the contract came to be awarded to Rite of Passage.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Close the Revolving Door
So much has gone on in the time I've been away that I hardly know where to begin. Unfortunately I can't commit a ton of time right now to the stories going around, which is terrible because they certainly warrant the type of consideration and analysis I've grown accustomed to giving.
Very briefly, Stacia Hylton, a former consultant for the GEO Group, has been nominated to be the next head of the US Marshals' Service, one of the main government agencies that contracts with private prisons, especially the GEO Group. She's also got some connections to CCA that I honestly haven't had the chance yet to review myself, but from preliminary reports are nearly as damning. Basically though this is another sad example of the revolving door between the industry and the government that I've spoken about in the past.
As Ken Kopczynski of the Private Corrections Working Group said, this is "Like the fox watching the henhouse." But Ms. Hylton doesn't think the more than $110,000 she earned as a GEO Group consultant will influence her in a position in which she'll have authority over the awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of federal contracts. She's wrong.
Thankfully, a collection of organizations, led by the great team over at Prison Legal News, has already stepped up to oppose Ms. Hylton's confirmation. Among the organizations opposed to her leading the agency responsible for 13% of GEO's revenue is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). WhyIHateCCA strongly supports this effort to prevent a private prison industry insider from taking the reins of a government agency with such tremendous authority over the awarding of contracts.
More on this story:
TPM Muckraker's coverage
Information from the National Lawyers' Guild, another of the organizations opposing Ms. Hylton's nomination
More coverage of the nomination and Ms. Hylton's blatant conflict of interest
Very briefly, Stacia Hylton, a former consultant for the GEO Group, has been nominated to be the next head of the US Marshals' Service, one of the main government agencies that contracts with private prisons, especially the GEO Group. She's also got some connections to CCA that I honestly haven't had the chance yet to review myself, but from preliminary reports are nearly as damning. Basically though this is another sad example of the revolving door between the industry and the government that I've spoken about in the past.
As Ken Kopczynski of the Private Corrections Working Group said, this is "Like the fox watching the henhouse." But Ms. Hylton doesn't think the more than $110,000 she earned as a GEO Group consultant will influence her in a position in which she'll have authority over the awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of federal contracts. She's wrong.
Thankfully, a collection of organizations, led by the great team over at Prison Legal News, has already stepped up to oppose Ms. Hylton's confirmation. Among the organizations opposed to her leading the agency responsible for 13% of GEO's revenue is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). WhyIHateCCA strongly supports this effort to prevent a private prison industry insider from taking the reins of a government agency with such tremendous authority over the awarding of contracts.
TPM Muckraker's coverage
Information from the National Lawyers' Guild, another of the organizations opposing Ms. Hylton's nomination
More coverage of the nomination and Ms. Hylton's blatant conflict of interest
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
More Revolving Door Politics
Eight organizations concerned with the privatization of prisons have banded together in opposition to Obama's nominee for the new director of the US Marshall's Service. Why? Because the nominee, Stacia Hylton, has worked as a consultant to the GEO Group over the past year, steering millions in federal contracts their way. Previously, she had worked in the Dept. of Justice, where she helped CCA win a 20-year contract with the US Marshall's Service to hosue immigration detainees. She's so cozy with the industry in fact that CCA's President, Damon Hininger, attended her birthday party this past February.
Why I Hate CCA stands with these organizations firmly in opposition to having an industry insider take command of one of the private prison industry's biggest clients.
Why I Hate CCA stands with these organizations firmly in opposition to having an industry insider take command of one of the private prison industry's biggest clients.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A conflict of interest? Not if Dick Cheney is involved
Dick Cheney’s son-in-law, a former lobbyist for CCA, moved to DHS some time ago and has played a large role in the incarceration of undocumented immigrants, which has resulted in CCA drawing more than half its business from locking up immigrants (costing taxpayers nearly $3 million every day).
PS - you should also look back at some stories from near the beginning of 2009 concerning a DA in I want to say Willacy County TX named Juan Angel Guerra. He brought indictments against Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez for what essentially amounted to a conflict of interest along these lines. If I remember correctly, Cheney invested in the parent company of the GEO group heavily right around the same time the boosh administration ramped up its immigration prosecution (which saved the entire private prison industry), similar to how he invested heavily in haliburton and then had the government contract with them for the war, giving him millions of dollars.
PPS - I hate dick cheney too. hate him. It astounds me that there seems to be no strong impetus to bring him to justice. he's the biggest criminal this country has seen in a long time, far worse than Bernie Madoff, because at least Bernie didn't cause thousands of US men and women to die for a few bucks. but I digress...
PS - you should also look back at some stories from near the beginning of 2009 concerning a DA in I want to say Willacy County TX named Juan Angel Guerra. He brought indictments against Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez for what essentially amounted to a conflict of interest along these lines. If I remember correctly, Cheney invested in the parent company of the GEO group heavily right around the same time the boosh administration ramped up its immigration prosecution (which saved the entire private prison industry), similar to how he invested heavily in haliburton and then had the government contract with them for the war, giving him millions of dollars.
PPS - I hate dick cheney too. hate him. It astounds me that there seems to be no strong impetus to bring him to justice. he's the biggest criminal this country has seen in a long time, far worse than Bernie Madoff, because at least Bernie didn't cause thousands of US men and women to die for a few bucks. but I digress...
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