(Des Moines, IA) — Republicans in the legislature agreed to a 20-million-dollar increase in the budget for the Iowa Department of Corrections. It’s the most sizable increase for the prison system in years and comes after two Anamosa prison employees were beaten to death by two inmates who’ve both been charged with their murders. Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake and 52 other Republicans in the House voted for the plan early this morning (Tuesday). Democrats in the House unsuccessfully tried to add more requirements to the plan. Representative Liz Bennett of Cedar Rapids called for a federal investigation of the March 23rd assaults and reports to the legislature on all investigations of the incident. The House unanimously voted to make it state policy to extend health care coverage to the families of prison staff who are killed on the job. Representative Lee Hein of Monticello represents the Anamosa area and found out the McFarland and Schulte families lost health care coverage April 1st, nine days after the murders.
