Proposed Prison Project Clears Committee

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's proposed $800 million prison construction project cleared a major hurdle Thursday, after a committee approved the bill along with a proposed $13 increase in auto title fees as a funding source.  The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee voted 7-4 for a revised bill authorizing an $800 million bond issue to build four new prisons, three regional mega-prisons for men and a new women's prison, and close most existing state facilities.  The vote came after approval of a separate bill to raise auto title fees.  Committee Chairman Steve Clouse said the "reasonable" title fee increase would provide some fiscal insurance to lawmakers who have questioned the prison system's plan to pay for the bond issue through consolidation savings after closing most existing state prisons.  The House could vote on the bills next week.  Bentley issued a statement praising committee passage.