As the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee gathered for its early-morning work session today on two big budgets - public schools and corrections - the usual crew of committee members, staffers and reporters were joined by two lobbyists, Skip Smyser and Jason Kreizenbeck, who represent Corrections Corp. of America, which has the contract to operate the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said CCA lobbyists haven't missed JFAC's early-morning work session on the corrections budget for the past several years. "It's a little strange, but if they want to get up this early and come see what we do, the doors are open," Cameron said.

As JFAC sets the corrections budget today, a new report out today from the Associated Press suggests Idaho may not be saving any money through prison privatization, and the state hasn't checked. Cameron said that may be a good topic for analysis by the Legislature's Office of Performance Evaluations.