Gov. Quinn, Sen. Durbin 'Encouraged' Obama Memo Suggests Thomson To Be Gitmo Replacement

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Gov. Pat Quinn said they are encouraged that a draft memo has surfaced indicating Thomson Correctional Center may be the choice to replace the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Andrew Breitbart has the memo here.

An administration official tells TPMDC it is a "draft, predecisional document that lawyers at various agencies were drafting in preparation for a potential future announcement about where to house GTMO detainees."

"Drafts of official documents are often prepared for any and all possibilities, regardless of whether a decision has been made about the policy or if the document will be used," the official said.

But Durbin and Quinn in a joint statement said it was a positive sign since they back the move and suggested it would create jobs.

"Late this afternoon, we learned of a draft internal Obama Administration memo signaling that the Administration has narrowed its focus to the Thomson Correctional Center to serve as a federal prison. We are told that the Administration has not made its final decision, but that such draft memoranda authorizing federal officials to begin the next steps in an acquisition process such as this are routine.

"Even though the final decision has not been made, we are encouraged by this development. We will continue working with the White House, the Defense Department and the Justice Department to address important questions regarding security and job creation, and finalize this agreement.

"If the acquisition of the Thomson facility moves forward, it will serve as a maximum security correctional facility for the federal Bureau of Prisons and a portion of that facility would be leased to the Defense Department to house a limited number of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

"As we have said many times, this move will have an enormous impact on our state - potentially generating up to 3,800 jobs and potentially injecting more than $1 billion into the regional economy. This is an opportunity to dramatically reduce unemployment, create thousands of good-paying jobs and breathe new economic life into this part of downstate Illinois."