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A surprise uprising among usually faithful House Judiciary Republicans Thursday blocked approval of a bill requiring federal prisons to compete with private companies when selling goods to the government.

The measure (H.R. 2965) was considered a cinch for easy approval before the committee met since the panel had approved it in each of the last two Congresses. The full House even approved it in the last Congress, although it never made it through the Senate.

The bill would require Federal Prison Industries, the umbrella group over work produced in prisons, to sell furniture and other goods in competition with private firms. Now federal agencies are required to seek supplies worth at least $2,500 from the prison industry first.

But soon after Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., called up the measure that he supports, some of the most stalwart party loyalists the chairman counted on for backing criticized the bill.

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-N.C., then offered an amendment for a two-year study of the market impact of prison labor and other matters, a move that would scuttle the prison reform bill.

Chabot and others argued that jeopardizing prison industries could harm efforts to rehabilitate prisoners and increase crime once prisoners are released. "FPI is an effective alternative to idleness," said Chabot, who pointed to a Government Accountability Office study that prison labor layoffs could result in costs of $50 million more a year in hiring prison guards to prevent unrest.

Arguing against the study, Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., said "this matter has been studied over and over and over."

Furniture makers in particular want to get more sales in the federal government market but several Republicans said it was more important that prisoners get job training to prevent crime when released. A prison industry lobbyist said prison-made furniture is only a small fraction of the entire furniture market.

When it appeared Sensenbrenner could lose to Chabot, Sensenbrenner loyalist Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Tex., moved the committee adjourn to prevent an apparent defeat. The committee then voted against adjourning.

But rather voting on Chabot's amendment, Sensenbrenner recessed the committee to go to the House floor. After the committee returned, it then voted to quit for the day, and perhaps resume the fight over prison labor later. No date was scheduled to resume debate.

COMMENTS

• I thought the uncivil "Civil War" determined that the states would form a union and there would be no salves in that union. Now Congress takes all the locked up people (mostly blacks) and says they should provide the furniture for government operations! Slaves in prison providing furniture that people working in the private sector should be providing! Congress now proposes slavery be reestablished in the guise of prisoners paying their way. If they are supposed to pay their way, they shouldn't be in prison. Also the level of comfort and benefits they get in prison should be reduced significantly from present levels. Prisoners in the USA live better than most people in sub-Saharan Africa and most of South America's rural population. Private Industry Posted July 21, 2005 7:30 AM
• This entire issue simply illusrates the problems with state control of a market (communist concept). The basis of control is not competition but alterior motives, such as training inmates for their return to society. Given five different people you will get five different this is what you should dop! That is why we elect representative, senators and executive heads. They mnake the decisions. If I were making the decision I would agrue that the prisoners should work in habitat for humanity to provide poor people with houses while they learn construction. Also, those that cannot leave the pen should build furniture and fixtures to go into the habitat for humanity housing. Likewise, the prisoners could provide labor to reparir existing housing and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could provide funding for low income home purchasers (probably old apartment buildings converted into low cost condos by prisoners). taxpayer Posted July 18, 2005 8:48 AM
• Hurrah for Rep. Chabot! Finally someone has the courage to stand up to the Michigan furniture cartel. Harold Posted July 15, 2005 4:03 PM