Texas Prison Bid'ness

Matt Pulle over at the Texas Watchdog has published a very interesting four-page expose on the GEO Group's connections to the state capitol.  The report focuses on two personal connections between state legislators and the troubled private prison company.  Here's an excerpt:

Two state lawmakers from South Texas have financial ties to a private prison firm that runs facilities for the Texas state prison system — at a time when lawmakers are debating sweeping new measures to clamp down on corrections companies.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and state Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, have financial links to the GEO Group, a Florida-based firm that runs 19 correctional facilities in Texas, including nine under contract for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The report then goes on to detail on a number of issues including,

Riots, deadly beating, filth plague GEO Group facilities, courts and state regulators find 

Carlos Zaffirini: Wife would not let private life influence lawmaking 

GEO Group’s business would be limited, scrutinized under legislative proposals