LANSING - State Rep. Steve Adamini (D-Marquette) today denounced a Republican plan to close a correctional facility in Newberry, saying the decision will eliminate more than 300 jobs.
"Closing the Newberry Correctional Facility is yet another blow to the Upper Peninsula's economy," Adamini said. "In these hard economic times, I am appalled that Republicans would eliminate 345 U.P. jobs from a facility regarded to be efficient."
Today, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary and Corrections proposed closing the Newberry Correctional Facility and Camp Manistique, which employs 345 full-time workers. While seeking to close the Newberry facility, Republicans also voted to preserve the privately owned Michigan Youth Correctional Facility in Baldwin, despite an Auditor General report showing numerous inefficiencies at the facility.
Republicans have stated that they would uphold the contract with MYCF to preserve jobs in Lake County. Adamini added that closing the MYCF facility would be a much better choice based on the fact that the state would only have to reassign 400 beds, compared to the 1,144 from the Newberry Facility. This is a choice that would not only be better economically but also would continue to help combat prison over-crowding.
Adamini added that the proposal to close the facility is the most recent in a series of attacks on the Upper Peninsula.
"The Republican led Legislature is not standing up for the Upper Peninsula," Adamini said. "First they proposed the closing of the Ishpeming Secretary of State office, then they cut $14 million from Northern Michigan University's budget and now they want to eliminate 345 U.P. jobs. The U.P. deserves the same respect and support as the rest of the state."
"The decision was based on partisanship, not overall impact. The MYCF is in a Republican district in Western Michigan and the Newberry facility is in a Democratic district in the Upper Peninsula. It is crystal clear that the only budget cuts that will be made are going to be outside of Republican districts" Adamini said.