The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Rides Again
From out of the West, they ride. A group so hell bent on the status quo that they will do everything in its power to keep. It is the Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight -- the group of Greenville lawmakers who basically don't understand the medical needs of the community.
This is the group that has fought Greenville Health System tooth and nail every step of the way as the system has tried to shed off the yoke of the State Legislature. The group's latest and lamest attempt comes this week.
According to the Greenville Journal, the Gang is now trying to prevent the move by getting the state revenue department to look at GHS' tax exempt status. State Rep. Mike Burns told the Journal:
“We’re meeting with the department of revenue to talk about this. They’re going to be a private entity operating a public entity in some hybrid we don’t have elsewhere in the state, trying to be the first in the state, and I don’t see how you can be tax exempt and not pay taxes.”
Reading between the lines, the Gang is saying this is new, we don't understand, so it must be evil. To recap the proposal on the table, GHS would continue as a public entity that leases its facilities from a group known as the Upstate Affiliate Organization, which is a private, not-for-profit. There would be a new organization called the Strategic Coordinating Organization that sets the strategic direction and provides corporate support to the UAO. Under this model, GHS would continue to own the existing properties and stay a governmental and nonprofit entity.
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