Removal of Sen. Fasano From Budget Chair 'Undemocratic,' Says Teamster Leader

Wood: It's Retaliation for Opposition to Prison Privatization

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ken Wood, Acting President of Teamsters Local 2011, today denounced the strong-arm tactics used against Sen. Mike Fasano because of his opposition to a plan to privatize prisons in 18 Florida counties.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

Sen. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, was removed today as chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations.

"This is a shameful attack on Sen. Fasano, the integrity of the Senate and the democratic process," Wood said. "The citizens of Florida should be outraged by this bullying of a people's representative. Sen. Fasano is simply doing what a Florida Senator is supposed to do, which is to deliberate over important policy matters – not rush them through without careful analysis.

"The Senate leadership is ignoring the democratic process and tainting the Senate's integrity," Wood said. "The people of Florida are right to be suspicious that prison privatization is all about awarding contracts to political paymasters. This just reinforces that suspicion."

More than 50 Teamster correctional officers and their families thanked Sen. Fasano for his support as he passed them in the hallway of the Senate Office Building earlier today.

For more information, visit http://fdocteamsters.org.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, go to www.teamster.org or follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 2011