Controversy Over Thomson Prison

President Obama's proposal to consider housing terrorists detainees from Guantanamo Bay at the nearly vacant Thomson Correctional facility is creating opposition from Illinois Republicans.

Plans are already in the works to stop federal dollars from being used for the idea.

Governor Pat Quinn says officials with the Federal Bureau of Prisons toured Thomson Prison Monday to see if it could house terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay.

"I have total confidence in President Obama with respect to his judgment and common sense," said Governor Pat Quinn.

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk and Peoria area representative Aaron Schock oppose the plan and say federal dollars should not be used for such an idea.

"I don't think it's necessary. It's added costs to do so. It only adds more insecurity and more possible terrorists activity and attacks to the community in which it's housed," said Rep. Aaron Schock.

Tazewell County State's attorney Stu Umholtz calls it a different setup from Pekin federal prison.

"It's obvious that this is a different set of circumstances otherwise it would be operated like any other prison," said Umholtz.

"The federal prison in my opinion has been an asset to the community. We've trained with them, they've been good partners with us," said Tazewell County Sheriff Bob Huston.

Senator Dick Durbin says the proposal would bring 3–thousand jobs to the Thomson community. He says Illinois federal prisons already house notorious criminals including Ali al–Marri, the Bradley University graduate recently sentenced for trying to provide information to Al–Quaida.

"There was not a ripple of reaction across Southern Illinois when he was brought in because that penitentiary and others across our State House some of the most dangerous people in America," said Sen. Dick Durbin.

Thomson would be the fifth federal prison in Illinois. Governor Quinn says the federal bureau of prisons would operate the facility which would also house federal inmates and the Defense Department would manage the area for Guantanamo Bay detainees awaiting trial.

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