Jan Brewer, Arizona Governor, Has Ties To Private Prisons That House Those Locked Up By New Immigration Law

KPHO:

He's Chuck Coughlin, Brewer's campaign chairman, policy adviser and a lobbyist for the largest private prison company in the country. And he's one of two people in the Brewer administration with ties to Corrections Corporation of America.

Read the whole story: KPHO

Comments

[Truth In Voting]

04:08 PM on 09/03/2010

So pay-to-play Arizona is corrupt at nearly every level (seriously, before Napolitano, every single one of our Republican governors dating back to the 80's have either been impeached or forced to resign).

I'm sure Jan's attorneys will argue that no real crime happened because the governor's staff and the governor herself were unaware that this was technically against the law -- or that anyone would bother noticing or enforcing anything.

The only real crime that I see is those nosy, rogue "investigative" reporters trying to stamp out the political corruption that makes Arizona so great. In the past, only the very rich and very powerful could access this kind of government corruption. But now that we're so democratic, lowbred bottom-feeders like Brewer's staff members can take part in corruption! And Jan Brewer herself proves that it doesn't matter how dim-witted and slow you are, it doesn't matter how ineffective a governor you are or what flaky, irregular route you took to complete high school, You Too Can Be a Benefactor & Beneficiary of Political Corruption!

/snark

[nypapajoe]

03:39 PM on 09/02/2010

Who amongst these republican politicians is not corrupt? Here we go again with another under handed plot with a corporation! There was something motivating this politician!

[quoveritas]

03:12 PM on 09/02/2010

This sounds like the case where a judge at a juvenile court had a financial stake in putting kids away at a private prison - where he was receiving kick backs, of course.

[bigdaveh]

02:57 PM on 09/02/2010

Between her and that A*@h*le of a sheriff the corruption reeks. I bet the whole lot of them were just hoping to count the federal contract dollars for the prison, while at the same time decrying the federal aid. What a bunch of FREAKIN' HYPOCRITES!

[montn2]

02:44 PM on 09/02/2010

Remember the juvenile judges in PA who took kick backs from the private prisons if they gave long jail terms to the offenders? That is a perfect example of the corruption that can happen with these operations. Wonder if kick backs are involved here?

[Lisette53]

02:48 PM on 09/02/2010

F&F NO DOUBT!

[ThirdSection]

02:33 PM on 09/02/2010

Jan Brewer: When Lobbyists Hold Office

[fuegoj]

02:21 PM on 09/02/2010

As an Arizona resident, I will not vote for this lady. I don't doubt this report, but I'm sure she is not the only politician tied to private prisons.

I don't understand why everybody is so against this Arizona law. The law states that a police officer needs to legally stop, detain, or arrest first and then have reasonable suspicion that the person he just stopped is illegally in the country before he can ask for immigration status.

Lets see, the federal government can board trains, ferries and buses checking for immigration papers without having to stop, arrest, or detain anybody and without suspicion.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/when-the-border-patrol-comes-aboard/?apage=6#comments

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-30-border-patrol-checks_N.htm

They can set up suspicionless check points, and question everybody about their citizenship, and can send you to secondary inspection for anything.

http://www.aclu-wa.org/docs/suspicionless-checkpoints-violate-rights

I live at the border, here Border Patrol bike units patrol the city and request people for citizenship and documents at random, without suspicion and without being detained. Sure they call them "casual encounters", but a symbol of authority with a gun is asking, many people will not walk away.

I like the Arizona law better, at least they require that you be legally stopped, detained, or arrested first, unlike the federal government who obviously doesn't need any of that.

[fuegoj]

02:25 PM on 09/02/2010

They even arrest people leaving the country.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-08-03-immigration03_ST_N.htm

[helenwheels]

04:05 PM on 09/02/2010

Why did they pass this bill at a time when immigration is down 2/3 from what it was years ago?

Brewer wants those prisons filled up because it's money in her pockets.

[fuegoj]

04:46 PM on 09/02/2010

I agree with you and It's also political, she was losing in the polls. Until she passed this law, now she is the republican candidate for November elections. I'm no fan of this governor, or any politician, but everybody is protesting this law when the federal government is worse.

[Economike]

02:03 PM on 09/02/2010

Man somebody beat Brewer with an ugly stick.

[hmmmmm]

04:33 PM on 09/02/2010

and the stick broke. . . .

[CAMBEL]

01:56 PM on 09/02/2010

What is it about AZ Politicians? McCains former cheif of Staff, Mark Salter, wrote books favorable to McCain just in time for his campaign for president while he was on the Govt. payroll.

[mydoglucky]

01:53 PM on 09/02/2010

KPHO ought to do a expose on Sheriff Joe and who exactly makes money from his prison. I've heard half his relatives are making money hand over fist.

[Gregor53]

01:53 PM on 09/02/2010

Like the song...Taking Care of Business.

[Jupitersky]

01:53 PM on 09/02/2010

The entire illegal immigration debate has been hijacked and turned into an anti-Latino referrendum by the right. The lies scapegoating illegal immigrations for crime, unemployment and budget deficits are easier to believe than the complexities of the truth.

Jan Brewer's main aim is to turn this issue into a rallying cry against latinos for white conservatives- which she believes will lead to her continued incumbancy. It's the southern strategy folks! It seems the people around her have their own agenda as well.

[cureyourosity]

01:52 PM on 09/02/2010

I don't care. Private or public jail cells, filling them with those who don't legally belong here doesn't make me lose any sleep. If a private company can provide lower costs than the state, then have at it. Obviously ICE doesn't have a problem with it and they are backed by the Feds.

[Gregor53]

01:55 PM on 09/02/2010

How about returning them to their country as opposed to filling private prisons. You may care if you are footing the bill. Besides, prisons are overcrowded, at least that is what I keep hearing. I would rather have an illegal on the street or doing my roof than a serial killer.

[cureyourosity]

02:00 PM on 09/02/2010

I would love if we could return them to their own country that would of course be ideal.

[maninal]

01:58 PM on 09/02/2010

You don't have a problem with your Gov making a profit from policy but you do have a problem accepting unemployment or health care... you people are insane.

[cureyourosity]

02:07 PM on 09/02/2010

No actually I don't have a problem accepting unemployment if I was laid off or with health care in general.
I do have a problem with the costs of an extended 26billion dollar unemployment benefits and a 2000 plus page healthcare plan that nobody took the freakin time to read or foresee the increased taxes and costs by such a bill. If that's insane, then call me Loopy:-)

[BigSlick674]

01:51 PM on 09/02/2010

No sitting politician or government official should ever be allowed to invest in the incarceration of another human being.

[PAposter]

01:53 PM on 09/02/2010

Agreed.

[Lisette53]

02:53 PM on 09/02/2010

EXACTLY!

[CanUFeel2012]

01:49 PM on 09/02/2010

Soulless