Today’s “Goofball Bill of the Day” circulating around the Wisconsin Capitol:
Re: Co-sponsorship of LRB 2074/1, charges for inmate telephone use at a jail or house of correction
From: State Rep. Frederick P. Kessler
Date: February 25, 2009
Re: Co-sponsorship of LRB 2074/1, charges for inmate telephone use at a jail or house of correction
This bill restricts the charges that may be imposed for an inmate phone call from a jail or house of correction to no more than the charges that would be imposed for a comparable call from a state institution. The rates charged in some counties are beyond all reason. For example, in 2007, Milwaukee County’s rate for a call from the House of Correction stood at $5.55 for a fifteen-minute call. The hardship to the inmate’s family is only exacerbated by having to choose between paying exorbitant phone rates to hear from their loved one, or making the difficult decision to not accept the phone call.
Tell ya what, Fred, as soon as we solve this pesky little $5.9 billion deficit, your bill to have taxpayers pick up more of the tab so rapists can call home to their mommies will be our first priority.
“The hardship to the inmate’s family is only exacerbated by having to choose between paying exorbitant phone rates to hear from their loved one, or making the difficult decision to not accept the phone call.”
Gee, if only there was a way for the loved ones to stay out of jail.
FRED KESSLER: PUTTING THE “ME” IN “CRIME”
What a crass and thoughtless comment from someone who clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Under no circumstances would this bill require taxpayers to “pick up more of the tab”. The comment shows willful ignorance at best and deliberate lying at worst.
The bill requires that inncocent citizens (those sitting at home) not be gouged by telephone companies by reducing the exorbitant profits those companies make on their prison accounts (A captive audience).
Comment by Jak King — February 24, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Jak:
You are an absolute moron. Anyone who thinks that this bill deserves to see the light of day is an idiot. We are facing a huge budget shortfall, and Kessler wants to talk about this? Where in the HELL are his priorities?
This just shows that Fred Kessler is a waste of space. But Jak, please be proud that he’s working for the inmates first.
Comment by mark — February 25, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Yep, that’s pretty goofy. But this has got to be a close second:
Under current law, any person operating a bicycle on a roadway must exercise due care when passing a parked vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, allowing a minimum of three feet between the bicycle and the vehicle and giving an audible signal when passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction.
Senate Bill 29 eliminates that requirement.
In addition, Senate Bill 29 prohibits any person from opening any door of a motor vehicle located on a highway without first taking due precaution to ensure that his or her act will not interfere with the movement of traffic or endanger any other person or vehicle.
A person who violates this prohibition may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for any subsequent conviction within a year.
Comment by Mr. Pelican Pants — February 25, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
The inmate pays nothing, nor does the taxpayer. Kessler is working for the inmate’s families, to reduce their bills without costing the taxpayer a cent. Do you think that is really moronic? Or, perhaps, you are one who believes that any relative of an inmate is as guilty as he/she is? Sounds like that’s the real basis for your attitude. Sad case of frozen brain, me thinks.
Comment by Jak King — February 25, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
Simple solution…..DONT END UP IN JAIL!!!!! They should charge them more!!!!
Comment by Justin — February 25, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
No, Jak. I am simply caring more about the majority of citizens in this state. Kessler is WASTING TIME with this garbage of a bill to grandstand and act like he’s doing something.
This could be simply fixed by Doyle making a few calls.
It’s simply a waste of time for the legislature. But Kessler hasn’t met a cause he can jump on to make a few headlines. He is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic…come to think of it he’s old enough to have been on the Titanic, right?
This isn’t a matter of rights of the inmates, it’s a matter of displaced priorities. And to think this doesn’t cost the taxpayers (in lost productivity of the legislature…I know, stop laughing…) is closing your eyes to reality. THis is taking time away from REAL issues. But Kessler has been real good about ducking those.
Comment by mark — February 25, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
How completely ignorant to sum up inmates as rapists wanting to call their mommies…I bet you are glad no one sees everything you do wrong. My fiance’ got into trouble, drunk driving, but he is changing his life and he is hands down the hardest working man I know and the absolute best father I have ever seen. Our 30 minute phone calls cost me $8.49 each, he is not a rapist calling his mommy, he is a loving father regretful of the mistake he has made and trying to keep a bond and connection with his children and I, you should not be so quick to judge or stereo type sir.
Comment by Joyce Radke — March 3, 2009 @ 11:54 am
Keep in mind that the Counties receive commissions on the inmate phone calls, often in excess of 50% of the call revenue. This money goes into the County’s general fund in some cases and into the inmate welfare fund in other cases. So, if this bill is passed, the counties will take a significant reduction in commission income. Someone has to make up the shortfall for the Counties and that will either come in the form of a tax increase at the County level or elimination of programs paid for by these funds. So, there is a cost. Also, the companies that provide the services are required to invest heavily in phones (which are abused by inmates) and advanced calling systems that must record calls, provide biometric identification, and protect the public from unauthorized inmate calls. The Counties do not pay for this expensive equipment, they get it for free and the cost of the call makes up for it. PLUS the County receives a commission. To think that the inmate phone companies are getting rich on this service is delusional. They are in business to make a profit and there’s nothing wrong with that, and with 50% or more going to the County I suspect the profit is not exorbitant. Also, for those of us who have not committed a crime, we have to budget our money and plan our expenses. Why are prisoners entitled to daily calls more than the rest of us? If they place one call a week at $8 a call (or whatever the going rate is) the total is $32 a month. Send letters in between and visit. One final note, although a DUI conviction is not the same as a rape conviction, someone in prison for this reason is a repeat offender. Drunk drivers take lives and they are in prison for a reason. It is great that he is changing his life, but would this have happened without legal intervention? I’m just glad to hear that he didn’t take an innocent life while driving under the influence.
Comment by Whole Picture — May 6, 2009 @ 8:54 am
The idiots that are commenting on this subject probably drive home from business lunches under the influence of alcohol all the time. when they end up in jail and have their family extorted by phone companies they too will cry! Congratulations to State Rep. Frederick P. Kessler for having the guts to stand up for the people who most likely voted for him. It’s a sticky subject that needs to be addressed! NOT everyone in jail or prison are rapists…more often than not innocent people find themselfs incarcerated because they were prosecuted with circumstantial weak evidence in our prosecutorial society! This bill isn’t going to cost taxpayers anything more…just relieve the inmates family of ridiculously outrageous phone rates (legal extortion). For an inmate to be truly rehabilitated they need a good support system out there (their family). This bill will allow them to keep those family ties strong and in the long run it will reduce the cost to taxpayers!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Rev. Pfaff — October 22, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
The idiots that are commenting on this subject probably drive home from business lunches under the influence of alcohol all the time. when they end up in jail and have their family extorted by phone companies they too will cry! Congratulations to State Rep. Frederick P. Kessler for having the guts to stand up for the people who most likely voted for him. It’s a sticky subject that needs to be addressed! NOT everyone in jail or prison are rapists…more often than not innocent people find themselfs incarcerated because they were prosecuted with circumstantial weak evidence in our prosecutorial society! This bill isn’t going to cost taxpayers anything more…just relieve the inmates family of ridiculously outrageous phone rates (legal extortion). For an inmate to be truly rehabilitated they need a good support system out there (their family). This bill will allow them to keep those family ties strong and in the long run it will reduce the cost to taxpayers!!!!!!!!!!! This is time Well spent State Rep. Frederick P. Kessler…keep up the good work…the government is suppose to be FOR THE PEOPLE!!!!
Comment by Rev. Pfaff — October 22, 2009 @ 4:36 pm