GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A plan to replace the Green Bay Correctional Institution has cleared one hurdle, but a few more still remain.
That’s according to State Representative David Steffen, a Republican from Howard, who has been fighting to find a replacement for the facility for years.
Last week, a budget amendment passed by the Joint Finance Committee set aside $5 million dollars to purchase land for a replacement facility.
“It’s surprising it took this long, but at the end of the day, the data overwhelmed the legislature,” explains Steffen.
He joined the John Muir Show Tuesday to opine on the amendment and explain possible outcomes.
Next up, it will need to pass through the full legislature.
“I think we’ve got a shot,” explains Steffen. “I’ve been tenacious on this and that doesn’t stop after the budget vote next week.”
According to him, a number of different communities have already expressed great interest in becoming the site to replace the facility.
No matter where it goes, Steffen says it needs to be totally replaced and another round of repairs would be a disservice.
“GBCI is not only the most dangerous place in Wisconsin, but it is also one of the most expensive operations in the state,” he says.
The final hurdle in the prison plan would be the governor’s desk.
If the amendment passes through the full legislature, it still needs to be signed off by Governor Evers, which is no small task.
Governor Evers did not allocate any money in his original budget specifically to replace the prison.
At that time he said:
“It’s something we have to weigh, but it will not be part of our budget request.”
Additionally, on the campaign trail, Evers was a proponent of reducing the state’s prison population as an alternative to replacing aging facilities.
Steffen has a hard time believing he still stands by that mantra.
“In fact, I think that’s one of those campaign promises that maybe he wishes he could walk away from,” he explains.
Representative Steffen adds that he’s had recent conversations with the Governor on this topic and he feels that his administration is far from a “closed-door” on the issue.
“They do have some openness to it,” he explains. “The way that I structured the amendment to the budget, I think it provides them some opportunity to play a role in what this new prison is going to look like.”
Governor Evers has the ability to veto portions, or the entirety, of the budget once it passes through the full legislature.
