The Gang rides again into a ditch
The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight spewed its latest diatribe against Greenville Health System this afternoon. To recap, despite being rebuffed numerous times along the way by the State Supreme Court and the South Carolina Attorney General, The Gang still wants to control GHS’s future despite no legal standing.
Here are five misconceptions the Gang, which should be noted does not represent the entire Greenville Legislative Delegation, are passing out there.
1. The System is owned by the taxpayers/gets federal funding and ergo is a public entity.
Look on your tax bill. Not one dime goes to GHS. Ergo, it is not a public entity. However, the Gang realizes that and counters that since GHS receives Medicaid and Medicare funding that it is a public agency. Umm, under that logic St. Francis also is a public entity. So is Publix because it accepts food stamps. The Gang, of course, doesn’t want to admit that.
2. The Gang claims it is looking after the taxpayer.
Um, yes, but it has no legal standing to do so. The Attorney General has stated that twice. The reality this is government intrusion of the highest order. The group is overstepping its legal authority. Act 432, which was passed by the Legislature, allows GHS to make this decision independently.
3. GHS is giving away $6 billion in assets.
No idea where the number comes from. They have never shown their numbers. And the reality is the assets of the system, which appear to be closer to $2.3 billion, will be leased from the governmental side of GHS. No giveaway.
4. GHS will now be able to sell its assets to anyone.
Under the various leases and laws that control GHS, that cannot happen ever. Even under the proposed switch. If there is a breach in this contract, it goes to binding arbitration. That means actual experts will decide what is best – not politicians.
5. GHS is trying to circumvent the law.
GHS is actually reacting to laws that are put in place by lawmakers. In addition, the Gang likes to cite Obamacare as absolute truth of government overstepping the bounds of the private sector. That is what the Gang is trying to do here.
In a nutshell, the Gang is looking after themselves. Not the taxpayer. Why, that is the ultimate question.