It was something you don't see often in Tallahassee, dominated by Republicans as it is: a vote that actually went down to the wire.
The issue: privatizing prisons in at least 26 prison facilities in 18 South Florida counties. Proponents said it would save $16.5 million annually. Opponents questioned those savings, and also expressed concerns about displacing state workers.
The proposal failed, 21-19.
Among those most critical of the proposal was Lakeland GOP State Senator Paula Dockery, a former chair of the Senate Justice Commission. She called the bill a solution in search of a problem, and disputed the 7 percent annual savings that supporters like J.D. Alexander were touting.
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2012.
