Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee have signed off on raises for workers in Wisconsin prisons. Tuesday’s approval of the 37-million dollar expenditure takes the starting wage for prison guards from 16-65 to 19-dollars-an-hour. Republicans approved the raise after setting aside similar legislation backed by the governor. Even though the new bill gives prison guards a bigger pay hike, the four Democrats on the committee voted “no.” Prison officials have said for years they need more money to retain and recruit prison guards.
