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OTTUMWA & DES MOINES, IOWA -- Iowa Democrats are crying foul about the vote of a Heartland state senator.

Senator Mark Chelgren, Republican of Ottumwa, voted against the judicial appropriations bill. The bill would have provided $400,000 worth of funding for Ottumwa’s new community based corrections facility.

KTVO spoke by phone with the senator Thursday afternoon from Des Moines. Senator Chelgren told KTVO that he supports the facility, and supports making it operational.

“I voted against the judicial appropriations bill because as a minority senator, I have had no input into where that money should be spent. With regards to the Ottumwa Correctional Facility; I absolutely think it needs to be funded, but the overall bill, so far 100% I have voted against every appropriation predominately because there has been no feedback from me, or any of my colleagues in the senate with regards to our priorities,” stated Chelgren.

The correctional facility in Ottumwa is near completion. The $400,000 would help fund the opening of the facility.

KTVO hopes to speak with Senator Chelgren in Ottumwa Friday about this issue and many others that are being discussed at the state house in Des Moines.