Senate blocks prison funding on two votes. King calls plan a ‘mega financial disaster'
A vote to fund the 3,000-bed prison in Northern Franklin County with an additional $750 million failed twice in the Arkansas Senate.
On April 1, Senate Bill 354 failed to garner the 27 votes needed to fund the prison in a 19-10 vote. Senators Ron Caldwell (Wynne), Jimmy Hickey Jr. (Texarkana), Ricky Hill (Cabot), Bryan King (Green Forrest), Greg Leding (Fayetteville), John Payton (Wilburn), Clint Penzo (Springdale), Terry Rice (Waldron), Gary Stubblefield (Branch) and Clarke Tucker (Little Rock) voted against the bill.
Voting for the bill were Senators Justin Boyd (Fort Smith), Josh Bryant (Rogers), Breanne Davis (Russellville), Tyler Dees (Siloam Springs), Johnathan Dismag (Little Rock, bill's sponsor), Jim Dotson (Bentonville), Jane English (North Little Rock), Scott Flippo (Bull Shoals), Stephanie Flowers (Pine Bluff), Ben Gilmore (Crossett), Bart Hester (Cave), Missy Irvin (Mountain View), Blake Johnson (Corning), Mark Johnson (Little Rock), Matt McKee (Pearcy), Jim Petty (Van Buren), Matt Stone (Camden), Dan Sullivan (Jonesboro) and Dave Wallace (Leachville).
Senators Alan Clark (Lonsdale) and Kim Hammer (Benton) didn't vote, while Senators Steve Crowell (Magnolia), Fredrick Love (Mabelvale), Reginald Murdock (Marianna) and Jamie Scott (North Little Rock) voted present.
The vote failed again on April 2, with one fewer vote in support and three more in opposition, ending at 18-13.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, who supported SB354 on April 1, switched to opposing it in the second vote. The opposition also gained votes from Sen. Alan Clark and Steve Crowell, who had previously voted 'present' or not voted.
Sen. Kim Hammer changed from 'no vote' to supporting the bill, while Sen. Missy Irvin switched from 'yea' to 'no vote.'
The legislature already has approved more than $300 million for the project. During a recent town hall, King pointed out that prisons of similar size have cost more than $1 billion. The costs for the prison didn't include the needed infrastructure to support and maintain the prison in Franklin County.
'This government plan for a mega-prison is a mega financial disaster,' King said. 'This plan is built on lies, deception and gross incompetence. Let's hope this disaster plan will be stopped for a more fiscally responsible plan to make Arkansas safer.'
(This story was updated with additional information.)
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Proposed Franklin County mega-prison fails to secure funding in senate
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