Private Prison Firms Spend Millions Lobbying to Force Banks to Give Them Loans

Private prison companies GEO Group and CoreCivic are lobbying Congress to pass the Fair Access to Banking Act, a bill that would require banks to provide financing to the companies despite them being denied business by several major banks due to human rights concerns. The bill aims to prevent banks from denying access to institutions or people involved in "politically unpopular businesses." Civil liberties advocates have criticized the legislation, arguing that consumer advocacy and economic boycotts are important aspects of the democratic process.