The chairman of the Oversight Committee in the Iowa House is planning a field trip to Fort Madison on Friday, January 23rd.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, is heading the committee’s investigation of the long-delayed opening of the state’s new maximum security prison, built near the 176-year-old Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.
The new prison was originaly scheduled to open last spring, but a series of problems with the design of its heating and ventilating systems forced delays. Kaufmann hopes to have at least six other legislators, from both political parties, tour the facility with him next week. In addition to meeting with officials from the Iowa Departnent of Corrections, Kaufmann hopes some of the contractors will be on site as well.
Governor Branstad told The Des Moines Register the investigation would be best handled by the Iowa attorney general’s office, since a lawsuit is in the works to try to recoup some of the money the state has spent fixing the problems. Kaufmann says he “completely disagrees” with Branstad.
House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, delivered a speech in the Iowa House on Monday and publically called for the committee to investigate why the prison hasn’t opened yet. (story by RadioIowa)
