Private prison companies that donated almost a million dollars to political parties were on the verge of getting a multi billion dollar contract to operate more than two dozen Florida prisons. The plan was stopped, at least temporarily by a very vocal state senator, but speaking out has cost the Senator his leadership positions.

Florida taxpayers spent 42 million dollars to build a prison in Hardee County. Another 34 million in Indiantown, and 46 million for a prison in Okeechobee that taxpayers are still paying on. All total, a prison privatization plan would turn a half billion dollars worth of prisons over to private companies.

Opposition to the plan cost State Senator Mike Fasano his leadership positions. “The private companies have no skin in the game. they are putting up no investment, yet we are going to write them a check each month to run a prison that’s paid for by the taxpayers. Something’s wrong with that scenario.”

Democrat Eleanor Sobel calls the controversy unfortunate. “It’s bare knuckles. It is!”

But with Fasano ousted from his chairmanship, the ensuing shuffle put State Senator Jim Norman, once considered a privatization opponent in leadership.
“And no way, ,and I made it very clear, in no way would my vote or my position be compromised by any appointment.”

But Norman says he is now leaning toward privatization. Once votes started disappearing for the privatization bill, Governor Rick Scott got involved, calling Senators into his office.

One of them is former sheriff and current State Senator Charlie Dean of Citrus County. “I just don’t want to farm out jailing people for profit.”

While the privatization debate has been hot all week, look for it to go dark as supporters work behind the scenes to try and breathe new life into the plan.

Private prisons are required to operate with seven percent less money than state prisons, but no study has ever been conducted to determine if economists are really comparing bad apples to bad apples when it comes to the types of inmates being housed.