Impact of Campaign Cash on Florida Prison Privatization Questioned

BRADENTON – The amount of money that private correction companies have given candidates and its impact on the outcomes of policy decisions is drawing some attention throughout the state. For the 2010 cycle, the industry gave just under a million dollars to FL candidates and parties according to a report by the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

In addition to the hefty political donations, the industry has spent vast sums on lobbyists to help shape policies in their industry. In budget negotiations, the legislature agreed to privatize prisons throughout a large region of the southern portion of the state and to privatize healthcare statewide. Privatization in this industry was touted by Governor Scott, while campaigning in 2010 as a cost-saving measure.

Prison population growth was curbed drastically to a nearly flat level by recent sentencing reforms, taking the air out of much of the privatization argument as state prisons fell under capacity. Providing private healthcare has been billed as an opportunity to expand revenues for that industry and many companies have developed subsidiaries in this area, including GEO (formerly Wackenut). According to the report, the  Boca Raton-based company gave over $800,000 in Florida during the last cycle via GEO Group and GEO Care. They were the single largest donor to the Republican Party of Florida, whose veto-proof majority allowed them to shape policy decisions during the legislative session.