Watch CBS News

Paladino: Convert Prisons To Welfare Dorms

NEW YORK (AP) -- Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino has a plan for welfare reform: He wants to turn prisons into dormitories for welfare recipients so they can get state-sponsored jobs, employment training and lessons in "personal hygiene."

Paladino is a wealthy Buffalo real estate developer popular with many Tea Party activists. He's competing for the Republican nomination with former Rep. Rick Lazio; the primary is Sept. 14.

Paladino said the dormitory living would be voluntary, not mandatory, and would give welfare recipients an opportunity to take public state-sponsored jobs far from home.

He also defended his remarks about the hygiene of welfare recipients, saying he had trained troops from inner city communities during his years in the Army and was familiar with their needs.

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.