UPDATE: Nick Bishop has withdrawn his proposal. His comments after the jump...

Morgan Co. 5th District commissioner Nick Bishop says the recently decommissioned Brushy Mountain Prison should be used to house Guantanamo prisoners. He says it will save federal tax dollars and create hundreds of jobs in Morgan County.

"I think it is something of interest to the entire region. I also think it is a conversation that needs to be had and that is the purpose of my resolution," he said in an email.

He will introduce the following resolution at the next Morgan County Commission meeting...

continued...

Nicholas Bishop
Morgan County Commissioner 5th District
P.O. Box 352 Sunbright, TN 37872
Nick_Bishop_Ent@yahoo.com

To Be Proposed at the June 22,2009 Meeting

Resolution requesting the Federal Government and State of Tennessee to consider using Brushy Mountain Prison to house Guantanamo Bay prisoners

Whereas, the State of Tennessee has decommissioned the maximum prison facility known as Brushy Mountain Prison and has yet to decide on the future use of the facility

Whereas, the Brushy Mountain facility is still in useable condition and is ready to house inmates and should not set idle at tax payer`s expense

Whereas, the Federal government is considering closing down Guantanamo Bay and will need a facility that has the qualities and infrastructure such as Brushy Mountain Prison to house the Guantanamo Bay inmates which would save federal tax dollars by using the existing facility vs. building a new one

Whereas, based on the previous size of the operation of Brushy, opening Brushy Mountain Prison to house above mentioned inmates would create between 600-1,000 jobs in Morgan County and the surrounding region, the use of Brushy Mountain for housing the Guantanamo inmates would provide a measure of national security and job creation along with a large savings of public funds

Whereas, using Brushy Mountain Prison for housing Guantanamo Bay inmates would save public tax dollars, create long term jobs, stimulate the economy of the region, and provide a avenue for national security

Hereby be it resolved, the Morgan County Commission request that the Federal Government and the State of Tennessee consider using Brushy Mountain Prison as a possible location to house Guantanamo Bay Inmates.

UPDATE: Nick Bishop has reconsidered his proposal:

Due to lack of public support I will remove my resolution requesting the Morgan County Commission to ask the State Of Tennessee and Federal government to “consider” using the decommissioned Brushy Mountain Prison facility as a “possible” complex to house Guantanamo Bay detainees. I saw several polls that showed roughly seventy percent of people against the idea and thirty percent in favor. Thus, in respect to democracy I will remove my “idea” from the agenda. I also firmly believe that Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe and the State of Tennessee are doing everything they can to find a solution and my resolution was simply just another “idea”.

I am glad that the situation sparked a public debate on two important issues, the idea of what to do with the Brushy Mountain Prison facility and what should be done in regards to housing terrorist. The laws and ideas that our founding fathers put forth to establish our great nation came about through the process of civil public debate, not through hate and fear. I think that we as Americans have veered away from this principle and I hope we can get back on track. The issue of what to do with Brushy Mountain and what should happen with housing terrorist are extremely important in regards to not only security, but also the best possible use of public funds and I hope the public will pay attention to the issues and voice their concerns and ideas to the government. Thank you and God Bless.

Nick Bishop
Sunbright, TN