Kansas Lawmakers Balk At Private Prison Plan Financing

TOPEKA, KS — A Kansas legislative committee won't endorse a plan from state corrections officials to build a new prison mainly because of how the project would be financed.

The state Department of Corrections outlined its plan Thursday to have the nation's largest private prison operator build a replacement for the state's oldest and largest prison in Lansing, which is near Kansas City.

CoreCivic, based in Nashville, Tennessee, would lease the new prison to the state for 20 years before the state owned it.

The legislative committee wants the department to pursue financing the project with state bonds instead.

The committee's recommendation to delay the project will go to top legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. State law gives them the final say on whether the project moves forward.

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