Senate Hearing Set On Proposed Green Bay Prison Replacement

A state Senate panel will hold a public hearing today (Thursday) on a bill to replace the 119-year-old Green Bay Correctional Institution. The Government Operations Committee will hear testimony in Madison on a proposal originally made by Assembly Republican David Steffen to tear down the facility in Allouez (al’oh way) — and have a private firm build at a new location that the state could lease. Steffen was hoping the project could have been part of the massive state budget, admitting that a separate bill would have “more fingers in the pie” from his colleagues. Allouez officials have supported the move, saying the current Green Bay prison site could be sold to a private buyer and generate tax revenue. De Pere Republican Frank Lasee is the main sponsor of the Senate bill that’s up at today’s (Thursday’s) public hearing.