Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsWednesday, May 7, 2008 5:56 PM CDT
Comments Comments (5) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Plan to stop prison closing gets backing from Jones ally
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
Advertisement

SPRINGFIELD -- A plan aimed at stopping Gov. Rod Blagojevich from closing Pontiac Correctional Center has gained the support of a top Senate Democrat.

Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation that would impose a moratorium on prison closings.

Halvorson, who is running for Congress in Illinois’ 11th district, could help shepherd the Republican proposal through the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Halvorson is a key ally of Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, who controls what legislation is voted on in the Senate.

Details of the proposed moratorium are expected to be released during a press conference in Springfield Thursday.

The proposal was hastily drafted after Blagojevich, a Democrat from Chicago, turned his sights on Pontiac after agreeing not to move forward with his earlier plan to close the maximum-security portion of the Stateville Correctional Center.

Blagojevich wants to shutter Pontiac by January for a savings of $4 million to $5 million. The inmates would be transferred to the state’s unused prison in Thomson, north of the Quad-Cities.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, says the moratorium proposal would stop the governor from randomly attempting to close prisons.

Instead, the administration would have to lay out something akin to a five-year plan for the state’s prisons. That way, communities could prepare for the day when large state institutions are closed.

“This isn’t trying to be confrontational with the governor. It would help with the planning,” Rutherford said.

“We have to take a look at the whole system,” Halvorson said.

State Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, also is backing the plan.

“We’re seeking to avoid the upheaval the governor keeps visiting on these communities,” Radogno said. “It’s just good policy.”

The legislation is House bill 1235.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

OGS wrote on May 8, 2008 2:42 PM:

" If Halvorson is a key ally of Emil Jones then she will NOT get my vote. Emil Jones is a BIG problem for this state. "

Venture Bros. wrote on May 8, 2008 12:21 PM:

" The GOP coudnt even field a canidate until recently, so they have no room to gripe about anything. If the prison closes, its becasue the voters LET them close. Why do we keep electing these people ? "

real american wrote on May 8, 2008 10:51 AM:

" To: Pontiac Resident, Jones will do whatever the Governor tells him to do. He is a spineless waste of space. Any form of legislation that goes against what Blago. wants, Emil Jones refuses to let it be voted on in the full Senate. As the Senate President he has that authority. "

Pontiac resident wrote on May 8, 2008 7:00 AM:

" Where does Emil Jones stand on this closing of prisons? He's too quiet, as President of our senate? "

Bluedog wrote on May 7, 2008 9:03 PM:

" Debbie Halvorson is starting to " get it " . If she is to turn the 11th district from
" red to blue " she needs to quickly distance herself from Blago and Emil. In other words have a '' former pastor Wright " moment and move on. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy