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Governor: Spending to reduce contraband smuggling an emergency

Security upgrades and screening equipment aimed at reducing contraband smuggling in Texas prisons made it onto the list of items designated by the Governor as "emergencies," allowing them to be taken up within the first 30 days of the session. The Department of Criminal Justice has estimated the short-term cost of adding cameras, metal detectors, and other security improvements at $66 million.Proposed increases in prison guard pay and other TDCJ "exceptional items" totaling $1.2 billion will have to go through the regular appropriations process.MORE: From the Austin Statesman.AND MORE: In other budget news, according to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, even though the Lege will likely require budget cuts from most state agencies: "the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, will probably escape the knife because they have requested emergency money to make it through the current budget year, which ends Aug...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on February 03, 2009 (boomark / email).