Thomson Prison Sold For $165 Million
By: Alex de Leon
Updated: October 2, 2012
Thomson Prison is no longer property of the state of Illinois. It now belongs to the federal government.
The feds bought the maximum security prison for $165 million. It comes after U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) went around a Virginia congressman who refused to authorize the sale because of concerns prisoners from Guantanamo Bay would be transferred there.
Durbin says he went directly to President Obama, who then gave the purchase the green light. Gov. Pat Quinn says it's been a long time coming. "This is an opportunity for hardworking people who live from paycheck to paycheck who want to make sure that we're safe in America to work in a place right here in Illinois to make sure that we have a federal prison that is top-notch" says Quinn.
Quinn also says the sale will create 1,100 new jobs for the area. No date has been set for the prison to open because construction work needs to be done to bring it up to federal standards.
The feds bought the maximum security prison for $165 million. It comes after U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) went around a Virginia congressman who refused to authorize the sale because of concerns prisoners from Guantanamo Bay would be transferred there.
Durbin says he went directly to President Obama, who then gave the purchase the green light. Gov. Pat Quinn says it's been a long time coming. "This is an opportunity for hardworking people who live from paycheck to paycheck who want to make sure that we're safe in America to work in a place right here in Illinois to make sure that we have a federal prison that is top-notch" says Quinn.
Quinn also says the sale will create 1,100 new jobs for the area. No date has been set for the prison to open because construction work needs to be done to bring it up to federal standards.
