Kamala Harris free prisoner labor to fight wild fires

**Kamala Harris has a complex history with prisoner labor in California's wildfire suppression efforts.** Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Historical Context**: Harris, as California's Attorney General, supported the use of prison labor to fight wildfires, acknowledging the state's reliance on this workforce. However, she later reversed this stance and endorsed mobilizing a massive response to climate change through the Green New Deal.
2. **Prisoner Labor Utilization**: California has utilized prisoner labor in its firefighting efforts for decades, training around 2,600 prisoners to deploy alongside professional firefighters. These inmates are paid about $1 an hour and have accounted for about a third of the state's firefighting force.
3. **Pay and Safety Concerns**: The pay for these prisoner firefighters is significantly lower than the minimum wage, with some earning as little as $1.45 a day. This vulnerability to exploitation and abuse is a concern, as prisoners are excluded from legal protections enjoyed by other workers.
4. **Impact on Policy**: Harris' office defended the use of prison labor, arguing that releasing low-level offenders more quickly would deplete the workforce needed to suppress wildfires. This stance was later disavowed, and Harris directed her department's attorneys not to make that argument again.
5. **Reversal of Position**: As a presidential candidate, Harris endorsed the Green New Deal, which aims to mobilize a massive response to climate change, including for wildfire mitigation. This shift in position reflects a broader recognition of the need for alternative approaches to address the impact of climate change on firefighting efforts.
6. **Current Efforts**: Harris has also focused on providing federal funding for wildfire relief and prevention efforts, highlighting the need for technology and expertise to predict and mitigate wildfires ahead of time. This approach complements the Green New Deal, emphasizing a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges posed by climate change.

In conclusion, Kamala Harris has a nuanced history with the use of prisoner labor in wildfire suppression. While she supported the practice during her time as Attorney General, she has since advocated for a more comprehensive and proactive approach to address the impacts of climate change, including through the Green New Deal.