LANSING - State Reps. Steve Adamini, D-Marquette; Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard; and Rich Brown, D-Bessemer, said on Friday, July 29, that UP residents could take credit for a Republican plan to send a joint Senate-House delegation to the Upper Peninsula to announce a change of heart on closing the Newberry Correctional Facility and drastically cut funding for Northern Michigan University.
"We welcome this change by the Republicans," Rep. Brown said. "Obviously, it is a direct result of consistent and persistent pressure applied by the citizens of the Upper Peninsula to dealmakers in Lansing."
House Republicans passed a budget on June 9, that would close the Newberry Correctional Facility and Camp Manistique. The facilities employ 345 full-time workers and are less than 10 years old. The budget also cuts $14 million from Northern Michigan University's budget over five years and reverses action to protect the Great Lakes. Rep. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, voted in favor of the budget.
Republicans are now saying that the $150 million from recent increases in state tax collections could mean saving the Newberry Correctional Facilities and NMU.
Rep. McDowell praised the efforts of UP residents in effecting the turnaround. "I have great admiration and respect for groups like Save Newberry, UP Students United and Friends of NMU," he said. "Without their help this change never would have occurred."
Rep. Adamini added: "Several weeks ago Rep. Casperson told a rally in Newberry that closing the Newberry prison was a 'bargaining chip' in the Republican negotiating strategy. I'm glad Rep. Casperson and his Republican colleagues found those chips too hot to handle."
Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming), who has participated in the budget negotiations, said that while progress is being made, no one was in a position to announce an agreement at the present time.
