Stop prison outsourcing HF 1280 UPDATE After hearing from nearly 100 MAPE members about HF 1280, Rep. Westrom has announced that he is pulling the bill off the agenda! Simply put, these bill would transfer inmates from the Moose Lake Correctional Facility to to a private facility in Appleton, Minnesota. Senator Tony Lourey and Representative Bill Hilty have gone on record saying this is a "colossally bad idea." House File 1280 attempts to force the Department of Corrections to transfer custody and control of the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. The bill states that the DHS Commissioner must use the facility to house persons participating in the Minnesota sex offender program. The Commissioner of the DOC shall transfer offenders housed at the Minnesota Correctional Facility ? Moose Lake to a privately owned and operated medium security facility within the state. Sample Letter for Campaign Subject: I oppose HF 1280 and SF 1188 Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I am a proud member of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees. I oppose HF 1280 and SF 1188. These bills aim to transfer inmates from the Moose Lake Correctional Facility to to a private facility in Appleton, Minnesota and turn the current Moose Lake facility over to the Department of Human Services. This proposal will not save the state money and will likely put public safety in jeopardy. Compared to other states, our corrections costs are very minimal. Only 2.8 percent of our general fund spending goes to correction costs, the second lowest rate in the nation. Prison privatization is not proven to save money over the long-term. Finally, this proposal will put the public at risk. In terms of prison break-outs, privatized prisons have a terrible record compared to government facilities. Moreover, moving inmates on rural back roads is a very dangerous endeavor. Senator Tony Lourey and Representative Bill Hilty have gone on record saying this is a "colossally bad idea." I could not agree more. Please oppose these bills. Sincerely,

Campaign Launched: March 18, 2009

Background Information

Minnesota faces a $5.2 billion deficit. Unemployment is rising. The Legislature and the Governor must find a way to solve the deficit by the end of the spring.

MAPE supports a comprehensive solution to the deficit crisis that minimizes job losses for state employees.

MAPE opposes out-sourcing, contracting out or privatization of state services. Privatization is not proven to save the state money and often eliminates jobs for Minnesotans.

MAPE supports the streamlining of state government and the elimination of programs that don't work, like JOBZ.

Please stay tuned to http://www.teammape.org throughout the legislative session for updates on issues as they happen.