JENSEN PREDICTS DEAL ON FUNDING FOR PRISON

Eau Claire - A deal allowing the state to lease a private prison being built
in Stanley could be reached in two to three months, even though it was kept
out of the state budget, Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen said during an
appearance at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Money for the state to lease the medium-security prison an Oklahoma-based
company is building was not in the budget bill the Legislature approved
Wednesday and sent to the governor.

Senate Democrats opposed putting funds for the prison in the budget bill
because that could set a precedent for other groups to build facilities
without first getting the state's approval, said Chris Micklos, a spokesman
for Senate Majority Leader Charles Chvala.

Dominion Venture Group of Edmond, Okla., expects construction on the prison,
designed for 1,320 inmates, to be finished in February.