State Rep. Walt Blackman says Arizona should not approve a $131 million request to improve prison cooling systems without first establishing stronger oversight, and he plans to hold a legislative hearing on the issue.
“I don’t think we should give them a dime until we set up that oversight,” the Republican told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show. “We need to think about taxpayer dollars.”
Prison Director Ryan Thornell is asking lawmakers for the money to add air conditioning to eight units at Lewis and Tucson prisons, with construction completed by 2031, ABC15 reported…