Lawmakers' relatives work for GEO Group prison co. as state weighs clamp-down on embattled firm

Source: By Matt Pulle, Texas Watchdog, Monday, April 27th, 2009

Two state lawmakers from South Texas have financial ties to a private prison firm that runs facilities for the Texas state prison system -- at a time when lawmakers are debating sweeping new measures to clamp down on corrections companies. 

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and state Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, have financial links to the GEO Group, a Florida-based firm that runs 19 correctional facilities in Texas, including nine under contract for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.