Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon says she'd like to see the Tamms Supermax Prison and the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro retooled and stay open. Simon says Governor Pat Quinn would rather not close those and several other state facilities, but she says the state has to live within its means. She says it's a matter of math, not politics. Simon says it makes sense to keep both open since they are modern facilities built less than 20 years ago. The bi-partisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recently voted against closing the Tamms Correctional Center. It voted last year against closing the IYC at Murphysboro. The commission's recommendations are non-binding.
Governor Quinn insists the facilities must close to cut spending.
Governor Quinn wants the Tamms Prison to close by the end of August and the Youth Center in Murphysboro to close by the end of July. The state has already started issuing pink slips to employees at the both facilities. An economic impact study indicates closing Tamms and the Murphysboro Youth Center will result in an over all loss of nearly 500 jobs and $20M in salaries and tax revenue for the region.
