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Prisons
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
6:49pm
Wed Feb 13

EPI Blasts ALEC's Economic Recommendations Saying They Are Bad For The Public Good

Researchers on a conference call today questioned the American Legislative Exchange Council's economic and fiscal policy agenda.

Hosted by the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit think tank that often presents the liberal viewpoint on economic issues, the conference call exposed what some researchers called the “counterproductive policies” of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a state legislator organization that promotes free-market and conservative ideas.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, which is made up of more than 2,000 state legislators, came under fire last year for its promotion of the “Stand Your Ground” gun policy, but today’s conference call centered on state tax and budget policy prescriptions and privatization plans.

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
8:42pm
Mon Feb 4

Odds Of Thomson Prison Opening Look Good

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says there is continued commitment to open Thomson Correctional Center in Northwest Illinois, a prison that has sat mostly vacant since it was built in 2001.

Durbin sat down with Charles Samuels, director of the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons, last week and was assured the process of opening Thomson was moving forward. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17) joined the meeting by phone.

A timeline for the opening of Thomson has not been released yet, though. Funding for the necessary updates for the prison to meet federal standards is contingent on the president’s FY 2014 budget, which has not yet been submitted.

“When President Obama releases his budget in the next few weeks, it should include funding for prison activation,” said Durbin in a press release. “Over the next few months, I will be working with Congresswoman Bustos to ensure that opening Thomson prison – and bringing jobs and economic activity to Northwest Illinois communities – remains a priority.”

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
5:24pm
Fri Nov 16, 2012

Illinois Immigrant Detention Center Makes List Of Top 10 Worst Facilities

Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin, Illinois is one of the 10 worst immigrant detention centers in the country, according to a report issued yesterday by Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).

The report, which claims U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lack oversight of the nation’s detention facilities, sites a 350-mile distance from Chicago and a depleted communication infrastructure, including broken phones and expensive calling cards, as causes to consider Tri-County an unacceptable place for housing immigrants.

Because of “ICE’s failure to hold the facility accountable and the ongoing human rights and due process violations” the report, part of the National Immigrant and Justice Center’s “Expose and Close” campaign, recommends that Tri-County be closed.

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