PIERRE, S.D.(HubCityRadio)-  On Tuesday, the South Dakota Legislature voted to pass SB2 that would fund the new Mens Prison in Sioux Falls for the cost of 650 million dollars.

Here’s are how the legislators representing Brown County voted on the bill.

District 3 Senator Carl Perry voted in favor and explained why on the Senate floor.

After the proposal passed and signed he stated:

“Carl has attended two prison reset meeting, six zoom calls on the prison.  Carl believe in doing the right thing!  Doing nothing is not the answer.  Public safety is the answer.  I did vote yes for the prison!”

District 1 Senator Michael Rohl voted in favor.

“While the investment was large, your families are worth it.  In my three legislative terms, no bill has made South Dakota families safter than SB2 will.  Our state has a duty to rehabilitate offenders that will return to our streets one day and have the space to permanently secure those that pose a risk to our families.  SB2 accomplishes both.”

District 23 Senator Mark Lapka also in favor

On the House side the following legislators voted in favor:

District 1 Representative Nick Fosness

District 3 Representative Al Novstrup

“The legislature voted to replace the 144 year old prison that was built when it was Dakota Territory before statehood.  The new prison will be safer for correction officers.  On April 12, 2011 Ron Johnson, a South Dakota corrections officer was murder by two inmates.  The new prison will also help inmates from reoffending thus reducing the cost to the taxpayers.”

District 23 Representatives Spencer Gosch and Scott Moore

Those opposed the bill include:

District 1 Representative Logan Manhart

“It is disappointing.  This proposal was widely opposed by the residents here in South Dakota.  Unfortunately, many of my colleagues are less concerned with what their constituents think, and more interested in what the political donors want.  It shouldn’t be that way.  Very disheartening.”

District 3 Representative Brandei Schaefbauer

“Today the South Dakota legislature passed the largest spending bill in South Dakota history under the guise of public safety, but all the while placing the future operating cost and burden upon the South Dakota taxpayers.  SB2 was passed without a new secretary of corrections to oversee the project.  I was also passed without a commission of rehabilitation established.  And it was also passed without any changes to the policies which have been blamed for our overcrowding issues.  Now we are to trust our government to make sure that this new prison facility will be place of rehabilitation, education, and humane incarceration, without inflicting irreparable budgetary harm on our state?  Call me more than skeptical.”