Lawmakers questioning Jindal administration’s commitment to new hospital
By Alicia Haefele

BATON ROUGE, La. – Charity Hospital, damaged in Hurricane Katrina, is in the works of being replaced by a $1.2 billion teaching hospital in New Orleans.

Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine plans to re-review funding for the billion dollar hospital. “I don't think it's a lot to ask to make sure that the project makes sense financially," Levine said. "You're talking about 1.2 billion dollars. You're talking about effectively encumbering our state's safety-net money for 30 years. So I don't think it's inappropriate to ask," Levine said.

Due to Levine’s questioning of the original report drafted by Adams Management Services Corp. and Phase 2 Consulting last year, some lawmakers are questioning the Jindal administration’s commitment.

"There are rumors that this is a delaying tactic," Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, said Friday.

"If the analysis comes back and verifies the initial business model, that's fine," says Jindal in response to the commitment accusations. "But I think it's simply prudent (to seek outside review) before the state makes this incredibly large investment."

I don’t believe that it is unreasonable to check, double check, and triple check the financials of such a large scale investment. Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry? If Jindal’s administration chooses to double check the original report, than that proves to me he is doing his job; making sure the hospital is going to be built and financed properly.