Michigan governor still hesitant on Gitmo proposal

WKAR Public Media

Published August 5, 2009 at 4:42 PM EDT

By AP

DETROIT, MI – Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she would rather take in prisoners from California than those from Guantanamo Bay.

Granholm told reporters Wednesday she needs to hear from the Department of Homeland Security before making decisions about accepting Guantanamo detainees. Federal officials say a maximum security prison in Standish and the military penitentiary in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., are among possible locations to hold 229 foreign fighters now detained in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Granholm earlier this summer offered to house some of California's prison inmates in the Standish prison for a fee. The proposal is still on the table. The prison is scheduled to close because of state budget cuts.

Granholm said she is confident California inmates do not represent the same homeland security risks as Guantanamo inmates.

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