Today at the Montana Legislature, Democrats pleaded for more money for people working within the Montana correctional system. They asked for raises for public defenders, more parole officers, and raises for officers in the state prison. Democrat Mitch Tropila says the wages are too low for state prison guards, making overtime mandatory and a hard job harder.
“Whenever they have to open one of the gate, they’re subject to having the inmates’ bodily fluids thrown at them, in their face, on their body. But they’re down there every day, they’re down there 24/7, 365.”
Republicans like Randy Brodehl blocked every attempt, saying the budget funds all of those programs, just not as much as Democrats wanted. He says prison guards are already looking at a raise.
“The committee chose to increase their wages by 50 cents each year which takes them 50 cents the first year, so a total of a dollar the second year … and that is above the 2015 level.”
Overall, no Democratic amendments in any part of the budget passed the House.
