Marco Rubio backed by ‘Big Prison,’ GEO, millions in privately run prison money
Big Oil, Big Pharma and the gun lobby are widely known contributors to political candidates, but a new Washington Post article shed light on the impact of “Big Prison” – millions from privately-run prison lobbyists. On of key benefactors is 2016 GOP Presidential candidate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
“GEO and Corrections Corporation of America – and their associates have funneled more than $10 million to candidates since 1989 and have spent nearly $25 million on lobbying efforts,” the article notes.
The Justice Policy Institute notes that in 2011, these privately run prisons now earn a combined $3.3 billion in annual revenue and the private federal prison population more than doubled between 2000 and 2010.
Rubio is one of the biggest benefactors of the private prison industry’s growing political influence, with a history of close ties to the nation’s second-largest for-profit prison company, GEO Group, stretching back to his days as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
“While Rubio was leading the House, GEO was awarded a state government contract for a $110 million prison soon after Rubio hired an economic consultant who had been a trustee for a GEO real estate trust. Over his career, Rubio has received nearly $40,000 in campaign donations from GEO, making him the Senate’s top career recipient of contributions from the company. (Rubio’s office did not respond to requests for comment.)” The Washington Post summarized.
Rubio is hardly alone: “The biggest beneficiaries of private prisons’ political donations have been Republican politicians in Florida, Tennessee, and border states with high populations of undocumented immigrants. The Republic Party of Florida PAC has received nearly $2.5 million from GEO and CCA since 1989. In 2010, GEO and its affiliates pumped $33,500 into political action committees benefiting Florida Republicans, including the Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate PAC. Since 2009, GEO Group’s co-founder and chief executive, George Zoley, has personally donated $6,480 to Rubio.”
You really oughta link out to the Post article higher in your piece… I’m sayin doe