The Justice Policy Institute has released a new report on how private prisons game the system, creating a perceived need for their services. How they do it: Lots of money spent on lobbying and campaign contributions.

You can read the full report here. The upshot:

“Research has shown that private prisons do not save taxpayer dollars and can in fact cost taxpayers more than public prisons. Additionally, privatizing prisons may undermine cost effective sentencing reforms and increase recidivism rates. Despite these well­-documented concerns, private prison companies continue to promote policies that put money in their pockets and people behind bars.”

What would be better than private prisons? [More...]

James Richard Verone is 59, has no priors, and worked for years for Coca Cola. Then he got sick. He didn't qualify for anything but food stamps. He needed medical care for a variety of conditions, from a protrusion on his chest to carpal tunnel, back pain and arthritis.

He made a plan: Rob a bank for a dollar, go to prison, get health care and three squares a day.

He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention.....[Vernone said] “I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police

So far it's worked.

He has seen several nurses and has an appointment with a doctor Friday. The ideal scenario would include back and foot surgery and a diagnosis and treatment of the protrusion on his chest, he said. He would serve a few years in prison and get out in time to collect Social Security and move to the beach.

[Hat tip to Sentencing Law and Policy.]

Two fundraisers from Newt Gingrich's campaign have resigned, citing Gingrich's excessive debt. Total defections so far for the self-proclaimed candidate: 18. Unnamed officials familiar with the details of his campaign say:

the former Georgia lawmaker racked up massive travel bills but money had only trickled in since he got into the race earlier this spring.
These officials said that he is at least $1 million in debt.

Gingrich could use his own money to keep going. He is brushing off the departures as "gossip," saying "No one has a clue why they left."

I don't think the "why" matters, given the number of quitters. When 18 people leave a campaign, it's fairly obvious there's something very wrong.

Time to fold Newt. No one's paying attention to your campaign because you are old news with no recent accomplishments and a past record of taking the worst positions on policy. Do we even need to mention his personal life?

Still no verdict for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich after 7 days of jury deliberation.

Semi-finals on the Voice: It's not even close in my view -- Frenchie and Beverly by miles.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) today announced 2,400 arrests during the past 7 days during Operation Cross-Check, a program in all 50 states that is "part of the Obama administration's ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens that threaten public and national security." [More...]

Balkinization provides a copy of the 1980 Office of Legal Counsel Opinion (PDF) on the constitutionality of the War Powers Act. Jack Balkin notes this passage:

We agree that the term "hostilities" should not be read necessarily to include sporadic military or paramilitary attacks on our armed forces stationed abroad.[. . . W]e also believe that as a general matter the presence of our armed forces in a foreign country whose government comes under attack by "guerrilla" operations would not trigger the reporting provisions of the War Powers Resolution unless our armed forces were assigned to "command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany" the forces of the host government in operations against such guerrilla operations. 16 50 U.S.C. § 1547(c).

[. . .] The structure and thrust of those provisions is the "introduction" of our armed forces into such a situation and not the fact that those forces may be engaged in hostilities. It seems fair to read "introduction" to require an active decision to place forces in a hostile situation rather than their simply acting in self-defense.

(Emphasis supplied.) Obviously, it was the Obama Administration that introduced US military power into Libya. This was no act of self defense. It is beyond debate, in my view, that the 1980 OLC opinion conflicts with the Obama Administration argument that the United States is not engaged in "hostilities" covered by the WPA. More . . .

In the continuing saga of the DEA vs. Aspen, Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo says he did nothing out of the ordinary by stopping by a 65th birthday party for a long-time Aspen resident who had a pending drug charge. The party was at a local hotel. He stayed 15 minutes and didn't even have a drink. In the wake of criticism of his decision to attend the party, and whether it was a mistake, he said yesterday:

“Well, it’s hard for me to say anything else but ‘of course’ now, looking back. But in the day-to-day life of the way I’ve been for the last 30 years in Aspen, it just seems like another thing that I do. It just seems like another type of [a] day in the life of an Aspenite, and maybe even the Pitkin County sheriff. At least for the last 40 years.”

After reiterating that the majority of the Aspen community is opposed to undercover drug operations, and that they pose a safety risk, he addresses the war on drugs: [More...]

Atrios says yes:

I really don't know why Greek leaders aren't telling the EU to suck on it. They're actually the ones who seem to be holding the cards, but they just don't realize it. Or pretend not to.

The EU seems to believe the alternative to Austerity Now! for Greece is worse:

The EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn said he was "certain that Greece will be able to take the decisions needed because the alternative is so much worse".

Not knowing the specifics, I can't say, but it seems to me the Euro-types have more to lose than Greece, who probably needs out of the Euro anyway. Last November, we had a similar discussion regarding Ireland. I think the Argentina model is worth studying here.

Speaking for me only

We'll post something interesting today.

Open thread.

Travel day for me. Maybe posting tonight.

Open Thread.

I hope everyone enjoyed Father's Day.

It's down to the wire for the gay marriage vote in New York. Reuters says the bill is one vote short in the senate. If passed, New York would join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia in allowing gay marriage. 39 states ban it and 4 states recognize civil unions.

On TV: The season finale of AMC's The Killing. I liked the show a lot, even though I thought it got bogged down at times. It's been renewed for another season.

On the grill: Apricot-glazed scallops and corn on the cob.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates shares his thoughts on the U.S. and war in an interview Friday:

“If we were about to be attacked or had been attacked or something happened that threatened a vital U.S. national interest, I would be the first in line to say, ‘Let’s go,’ ” Mr. Gates said. “I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.”

He also had some thoughts on how to make it Washington, particularly when, as he did, you have to serve under different Presidents from different parties: [More...]