Fox8.com
BATON ROUGE, La. — State lawmakers from southwest Louisiana, even those allied with Gov. Bobby Jindal, said Tuesday they were caught off-guard by an abrupt announcement from the Jindal administration that it planned to close a state prison in DeQuincy.
The closure of C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center was announced Friday. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc called it a cost-cutting measure that will save nearly $3 million this year and $12 million a year later.
The idea was not discussed in recent legislative budget hearings, and lawmakers representing the Calcasieu Parish area said they weren’t included in any talks about the closure.
The legislators, including House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, said they were given only a few hours’ notice before the closure was publicly announced and weren’t given the opportunity to pitch ideas about steps that could be taken to keep Phelps open.
Full story: State lawmakers caught off guard by prison closure