Members of the Illinois House Friday voted 65 to 37 to set a floor for the number of state employees providing health care in state prisons.
Representative Greg Harris -- a Chicago Democrat -- says Illinois can't afford to reduce what is already inadequate health care.
"There have been numerous lawsuits and some class action cases regarding both physical and behavioral health for the Dept. of Corrections," Harris said.
The state prison system is opposed.
Illinois contracts with a private company – Wexford -- to provide health care to prisoners.
