Pubdate: Tue, 30 Aug 2005
Source: Claremore Daily Progress, The (OK)
Copyright: 2005, The Claremore Daily Progress
Contact:  http://www.claremoreprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2044
Author: Luke Engan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

JOINT GOP PRISON PLAN UNVEILED

OKLAHOMA CITY -- When senators arrive at the state Capitol Tuesday, they 
might not have an agreement to approve, House Speaker Todd Hiett said Monday.

Hiett, R-Kellyville, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, Republican 
leader, unveiled a joint plan for the Department of Corrections. The 
agreement between the Republican caucuses merges the House GOP short-term 
plan and the Senate Republican plan announced earlier.

Concerns the department lacks funds to keep safe staffing levels at prisons 
can wait until February, when the Legislature convenes in its yearly 
regular session, Hiett said.

"I don't see the need for a special session to address these concerns," 
Hiett said. "When we hit session in February, we will be ready to go." 
Coffee said Senate Republicans will show up to vote, but some members might 
propose amendments to the Senate Democrat proposal, championed by Sen. 
Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau.

"We'll show up and we'll vote. That's our responsibility," Coffee said.

Under request from Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, senators are 
meeting without agreement with the House on whether the issue needs to be 
addressed this calendar year. Special session action would cost taxpayers 
thousands of dollars.

The Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate would need 
to pass the same bill before it can become law.

A key disagreement is whether nonviolent drug offenders should be released 
early from prison. Democrats' proposal would allow early releases to put 
addicts in drug courts and lessen the size of the prison population.

But Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, chair of the House Public Safety 
and Judiciary Committee, said the issue holds nothing to negotiate.

"We are not going to allow early release of drug offenders," Trebilcock 
stated. "We are never going to agree to early release."

Gov. Brad Henry, who called the corrections issue into special session, 
still believes the shortage of corrections officers needs to be addressed 
before the regular session, said Paul Sund, spokesman for the governor.

"Corrections officers have been stretched dangerously thin and need help 
now, not next year," Sund said.

Rep. Jari Askins, D-Duncan, Democrat leader, said special session action is 
necessary to fix the shortage, but other issues can wait.

Askins said it would help with recruitment for job candidates need to see 
state leaders meeting this year.

"We need to say through the media and through our actions that we think 
this is important and we believe in you and we are going to properly fund 
you," Askins said.

The Joseph Harp Correctional Center and Lexington Assessment and Reception 
Center in Lexington could be adversely affected by lawmakers waiting until 
February to pass corrections legislation, according to Rep. Wes Hilliard, 
D-Sulphur.

The hiring process takes at least three months. Hilliard said the longer 
the Legislature waits to provide additional funding, "the more we're 
putting the lives of our employees at risk."

Morgan and Sen. Ted Fisher, D-Sapulpa, announced they seek $10 million for 
the Oklahoma Centennial Commission in session this week, in addition to the 
$11 million the Democrats' corrections plan would cost.

About $94 million in centennial projects around Oklahoma would commemorate 
the state's 100th anniversary.

State government is slated to pick up one-third of the cost. So far, it has 
appropriated no money for the cause, leaving some community leaders 
wondering how far their projects will get by the November 2007 centennial.

And Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said the special session call should 
include a fix for the tobacco tax, which has brought in less than expected 
since it was implemented in January.

Brogdon said the Legislature needs to ensure that tribal retailers comply 
with the tax law, which the people passed in State Question 713.

Luke Engan is CNHI Oklahoma reporter.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman