(AP) — State Treasurer John Kennedy pushed Tuesday for a renovated public hospital in New Orleans, rather than construction of a new replacement facility, saying it would be cheaper to gut and rebuild Charity Hospital. The recommendation — opposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration — will be offered to the Commission on Streamlining Government, a state panel looking at ways to cut Louisiana’s budget. Jindal’s administration and LSU, which runs the public hospital, plan to build a new $1.2 billion public teaching and research facility rather than renovate Big Charity, which was flooded by Hurricane Katrina. Kennedy sided with preservationists seeking to renovate the historic landmark, saying the renovation could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Kennedy pushes to rebuild Big Charity hospital
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September 28, 2009