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Senate Republicans approved a $20 million budget increase for the Iowa Department of Corrections Tuesday following calls by Democrats for more funding.Senate Judiciary Chair Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, said Republicans agree with Democrats and that state prisons desperately need more money.Democrats toured the Anamosa State Penitentiary after a March 23 attack that killed Lorena Schulte and Robert McFarland.“(McFarland) tried to use his radio, and it malfunctioned,” said Rep. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines.Hunter said an outdated radio system and insufficient staffing contributed to the employees’ deaths. “We didn t have enough guards or correctional officers there to come to their aids,” Hunter said. “They had to rely on other inmates to save them. That is flat out wrong on so many levels.”The approved $20 million increase is the biggest budget boost the Department of Corrections has seen in years, but AFSCME President Danny Homan said it is not enough to fix what he call

United statesDes moinesRobert mcfarlandBruce hunterLaura terrellDanny homanBrad zaunMoines hunterLorena schulteSenate republicansSenate judiciaryIowa senateDepartment of correctionsIowa department of correctionsIowa departmentCorrections tuesday