Alabama lawmakers approve controversial plan to use $four hundred million in COVID-19 aid cash to build 2 new prisons

© AP photograph/Kim Chandler during this July 29, 2020 file picture, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks all through a information convention in 1st viscount montgomery of alamein, Alabama. AP picture/Kim Chandler

Alabama lawmakers are pushing ahead on a controversial plan to make use of COVID-19 reduction money to construct new prisons, the associated Press reported.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill authorizing the use of $four hundred million from the American Rescue Plan to partially fund the brand new prisons.

Democrats have opposed the plan, arguing it's an improper use of the pandemic reduction money.

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Alabama lawmakers pushed ahead Friday on a controversial plan to spend $400 million in federal COVID-19 aid dollars to build two new prisons in the state.

in line with the linked Press, lawmakers within the state permitted a plan to assemble two new prisons and renovate current detention center facilities for a total of $1.3 billion, with $400 million coming from federal funding provided to the state below President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan.

Six penal complex amenities would shut beneath the new plan, in line with the AP.

The $400 million is ready 20% of the funding the state got beneath the ARP.

"here's a pivotal moment for the trajectory of our state's crook justice device," GOP Gov. Kay Ivey mentioned at an event signing the legislations, according to a record from The associated Press.

Republicans who supported the law argued that using the money was acceptable on account of a provision of the $1.9 trillion plan that allowed states to allocate funds to complement lost profits and bolster state services, The associated Press reported.

"This became the correct factor for Alabama to do. we've bought crumbling infrastructure. we've bought americans housed in places that are filthy. we have received people working in conditions that are risky," Republican State Sen. Greg Albritton noted, per the AP.

Democrats, in the meantime, antagonistic the plan and argued it become an flawed use of the ARP unds. US condo Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, a Democrat representing big apple, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week asking that she step in to stay away from the ARP funds from being used to assemble the prisons, the AP suggested.

"i might be surprised if that was the intention of the funding," White condo Press Secretary Jen Psaki talked about on Wednesday, in response to the document.

"there are lots of needs right here in the state of Alabama and there are lots of americans who need these cash," Democratic State Rep. Juandalynn Givan talked about, based on the AP report. "but they noticed an opportunity to take the Biden funds, that $400 million, since it changed into similar to liquid water flowing via their arms and say, 'adequate, let's soar on it."