Rehberg hearts theHarden Jail

by: Jay Stevens

Wed May 13, 2009 at 12:55:53 PM MST

"It's a little hard to understand why the state is considering building new prisons while a brand new facility sits empty in Hardin," Rehberg said in a statement. "As a Montana taxpayer, I want my tax dollars be spent efficiently, and unless we're considering every option, there is going to be duplication and waste. Hardin wants the prisoners. Apparently Montana needs the space. Let's cut through the bureaucracy and sit down together to find a workable solution."

Yeah!

Except that...

Department of Corrections Director Mike Ferriter said in a Tuesday letter that the state does not have the large number of extra prisoners right now that Hardin would need. And he said the Hardin facility is a jail, and is not suitably built for the long-term imprisonment of inmates.

Ferriter said most of the Hardin jail consists of pods designed to hold up to two dozen inmates, a layout the state says lacks the sufficient security of prison cells for one or two inmates. He said DOC consultants found the facility would need "extensive remodeling" to meet state standards.

Feriter added that Rehberg should "focus his efforts on persuading the federal government to house some of its inmates in Hardin." Ye-ow! Take that, bia-tch! Two snaps!

So why all the fuss about the Hardin jail all of a sudden? Could it be the national press the city's gotten since it offered to house Gitmo detainees? I doubt Hardin officials intended to game the system like this, but it seems like their dumb luck has turned good...for now.

Man, this is fun to watch.