Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg)
The state would lease and re-open the privately-owned prison in Appleton, under a controversial bill that lawmakers debate in a Minnesota House committee this morning (1015am). Governor Mark Dayton opposes it, arguing it’s better long-term to reduce the state’s prison population by lowering sentences for some non-violent drug offenses. Prinsburg Representative Tim Miller responds even if the state does than, inmate populations won’t drop as much as lawmakers want. Miller says Appleton has “n incredible facility ready to go that we can house offenders.” He adds re-opening the Appleton prison would do something the governor wants: create jobs. Opponents of re-opening the Appleton prison says the state can’t ignore corrections policy to create jobs.