Must Read for concerned CO's: PRIVATIZATION

[AmericanCO]

Corrections Corp. of America spent almost $2.5 million in 2007 to lobby on legislation and regulations related to the private prison industry.


The prison management company spent more than $1.1 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form posted online Thursday by the Senate's public records office.


The company lobbied on the privatization of Bureau of Indian Affairs prisons and on the Public Safety Act, which would outlaw private prisons, as well as the Private Prison Information Act, which would force private prisons to make public the same information government jails must provide. Corrections Corp. spent more than $1.3 million in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on similar issues.


In addition to lobbying Congress, the company also lobbied the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Office of Management and Budget. Corrections Corp. lobbyists included Bart VerHulst, previously chief of staff for former Senate Majority Leader Bill First, R-Tenn.; Mike Quinlan, former director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and Gus Puryear, previously counsel to First and an adviser to Vice President **** Cheney.


Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.

The Public Safety Act and Private Prison Information Act are both very important pieces of legislation for us. At this juncture we can not counter their monetary influence but we can counter that with the VOTES of the members you represent.

We need you in DC! See you then!

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Legislative Day
Board of Directors Meeting
FOP DC CO Appreciation Day



May 8 – 10, 2008
Holiday Inn, Laurel MD, 1-301-776-5300,
American Correctional Officer room block

May 8, 2008 Legislation Day, Capitol Hill
May 9, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting 10:00 AM
May 10, 2008 FOP Correctional Officer Appreciation

Shuttle will be provided to Capitol Hill from the hotel and to the FOP Appreciation Day.


All attendees will be provided with presentation packets for your members of Congress.

Make your appointments today!


ACO 2008 Legislative Conference &
Board of Directors Meeting

To Do:

1) Make your hotel and travel reservations.


2) Notify ACO of how many of your members will be attending the conference.


3) Contact your members of Congress and set up appointments for May 8, 2008.


4) Contact ACO Legislative Chairman Jack Rosser at 202-486-6683 and let him know how many appointments you have arranged so that we can provide adequate presentations folders for you.


5) You will be receiving a draft presentation folder in the mail prior to the conference for your review. As soon as you make your hotel reservations contact us and let us know. We will send you our draft packet out shortly thereafter. If you have any questions contact Brian Dawe at 307-883-9707.

See you in DC!

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Thanks for the information. It's time for all of us to write our Congress people and make our voice known.

Michael Quinlan, former BOP Director. Lobbying for the privates. He was the director when the agency began it's slide into incompetence in the late 1980s.

[Dawg]

The only thing I can say about private prison's is THEY SUCK.

[vcs]

Thats right dawg!!!!!!!!!!!

[santipecos]

Good reading on private prison corporations. Pick a name, and smile... PCI Rap Sheets

Please do contact your elected officials. All I get is the standard BS answer from them and my bosses.

Just a side entry on one of my favorites:

Mass Firing of Texas Youth Commission Staff Makes National News --- But What about GEO Group's Past Record? | Texas Prison Bid'ness


And again, no comment on my opinion of them..

[dla4079]

private prison corporations aint the only ones that have problems, if you don't believe me then go here and check this out. Looks to me a state run prison seems to have just as much trouble.

So the way I see it is, State and Private run prisons are running neck and neck when it comes to problems, so why hate on private run prisons?

[IDCO2440]

Maybe I'm misreading that article but I cannot the problem with a private prison having to disclose the same information as a public one

[vcs]

The problem is for profit for doing a govt job!!

[Movementarian]

As I have said before, the privatising of essential state functions (like corrections) is wrong.

Government run facilities are accountable to law-makers and ultimately the people. Private facilities are accountable to their management and ultimately their share-holders.

Government run facilities must have transparency. Private facilities can claim certain information as proprietary.

Those, amongst others, are why private prisons are the DEVIL!

[IDCO2440]

Ah I see sorry my knowledge of private prisons is pretty limited