Kennedy: should prisoners get paid AND free room, utilities, food & medical?

Kennedy questions Winn, Turner, Armstrong in Judiciary. free housing, food, electric, health care, access to tv

Sen. John Kennedy questioned Prison reform advocate Terrance Winn, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to examine forced labor in prisons.

After sparring with the witnesses on issues such as injury compensation for prisoners and prison labor unions — policies which some said they support — Louisiana Senator John Kennedy decried what he called “emotional arguments” from the pro-reform experts.

“People are in prison for a reason,” said the Republican lawmaker. “I believe in free will. I just don’t think these emotional arguments are productive, and they’re not trying to solve a problem.”

https://www.facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/721569503280675

Kennedy: should prisoners get paid AND free room, utilities, food & medical?

Key Points

Kennedy questions Winn, Turner, Armstrong in Judiciary

• free housing, food, electric, health care, access to tv

Sen

• John Kennedy questioned Prison reform advocate Terrance Winn, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to examine forced labor in prisons
• After sparring with the witnesses on issues such as injury compensation for prisoners and prison labor unions — policies which some said they support — Louisiana Senator John Kennedy decried what he called “emotional arguments” from the pro-reform experts

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio:

• You think prison labor should be voluntary
• My answer is that the majority of incarcerated workers wish to work, but it is vital that that work be truly voluntary and that there is no place for forced labor in the United States
• You think that prisoners who do work are underpaid
• In your state, there are many of those workers who are unpaid
• What do you think the starting pay ought to be in my state for a prisoner
• Workers should be paid the minimum wage of the state where they live
• And there are true fiscal arguments and favoritism
• Do you think prisoners should have a 401K
• I think that, in my opinion, is not what we’re asking about
• I’m here to provide information and context for the committee

Full transcript: 1120 words transcribed via Whisper AI.