The State - News from Feb. 25, 1986

For the second time in two weeks, Assembly Republicans blocked passage of a $495-million bond issue for county jails that was to have been placed on the June 3 primary ballot. The vote continues a stalemate over jail funding sparked by Republicans’ refusal to go along with a Democratic amendment setting conditions on how the jail money can be spent. For example, the amendment would require counties to develop special programs and facilities for handling drunks and mentally ill inmates. Republicans denounced counties for not building a strong enough case that they are unable to halt jail overcrowding on their own. The measure was defeated on a 41-22 vote with a two-thirds majority, or 54 votes, required for approval.