While there are still a few skeptics of a plan to use $400 million in federal COVID-19 relief money on new prison construction, State Rep. Tracy Estes (R-Winfield) insists the legislature still had to act on the plan.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show” on Friday, the prison plan, which has now been passed by both chambers of the Alabama Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey, Estes said even if the Biden administration were to not approve of the use of that federal money, the state would have to find another way to pay for the plan.
“I know there are those who are questioning the use of the COVID money,” he said. “Our leadership has gotten assurances from Washington the money can be used this way. Folks on the other side are saying what if they come back and say we can’t use – well, we’d have to pay for it. Well, Jeff, we’re going to have to pay for this whole prison plan regardless. So, if for some small chance they come back and say you can’t use the federal money to do it, we’ll then you’re going to have to pay for it anyway. You’re just going to have to step up and pay the difference.”
“The argument is we have so many folks upset we have COVID deaths, and rightfully so, inside our prisons,” Estes continued. “Despite the fact they’re paying for their crime, they need to be safe in a safe environment. And you do that by spreading people out, and you get rid of the dormitory-style facilities, and you have the much small individual or maybe two-person-per cell under the new plan. And you do that — it’s only natural people are not together as much. You cut down the chance of viruses and diseases.”
Estes was initially a “no” vote on the deal but became a “yes” vote after the Alabama Senate proceeded with an amendment that allowed the Hamilton Aged and Infirmed facility in Marion County to at least temporarily remain open.
“I’m happy with the plan,” he added. “It’s unfortunate we had to spend $1.3 billion. I know when I was in the newspaper business years ago, I wrote, ‘Could you imagine how much money we could save in this country if people just knew how to behave? There’d be no prisons, very few need for judges, only a few firefighters to deal with a few natural fires here and there. It is sad to think how hard the people of our state work, and we’ll have to spend this kind of money to build prisons. Unfortunately, you know the DOJ is looking over our shoulder, and we don’t have a choice. We’ve got to get this done.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
