DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa lawmakers plan to increase money for state prisons, but are split on how big the boost will be.
The House is offering a $20 million increase while the Senate is proposing just over $6 million.
Negotiations on prison spending come three weeks after two workers were killed during an escape attempt at the Anamosa State prison.
Lawmakers have a couple of weeks to iron out their differences, although Democrats and the union for prison workers say both proposals fall short of what's needed.
The negotiations are part of the budgeting process for the next fiscal year which starts July 1st.
Lawmakers plan to finalize a state budget before they adjourn for the year at the end of April.
The money for prisons falls under a bill that makes appropriations to the justice system. It provides funding for the Departments of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense and Public Safety among others.
The entire Senate bill totals nearly $600 million. That includes about $33 million for the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where two inmates attacked two prison staff members with hammers, killing them.