Inmates Versus Flood Recovery - Who Wins?

The Des Moines Register reports that Republican lawmakers are considering canceling plans for a $131M max security facility to fund flood recovery.

"Reallocating funds in the time of crisis is an absolute necessity because we don't want to pile a fiscal disaster on top of a natural disaster," said Rep. Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha.

In a political twist, the Democratic legislators are calling the move irresponsible. They note that canceling the prison won't immediately free up funds in any case.

Usually, I think states should be cautious in building new facilities as the legislature and courts seem to always find inmates to fill them to overflowing. But in this case, it seems to be extremely short-sighted and purely political. Since they can't get the money in time for actual flood recovery, then it's just a gesture for the voters, at the expense of overcrowded inmates.