Sunday, March 8, 2015

Hospital Association loves to spend money on the legislature

The real wonder of  SB #2407's (removes exemptions for Open Meetings Act for public hospitals)  saga is not that it was castrated in the House Public Health Committee last week but that the bill even passed the Senate in the first place.  The Sun-Herald turned its bulldogs loose on the Mississippi Hospital Association and reported MHA dropped over a quarter of a million dollars on legislators:


The Mississippi Hospital Association, through its Political Action Committee, was able to ante up more than a quarter-million dollars in the last Mississippi legislative election. That vote flipped the House from the Democrats to the Republicans and gave rise to the House committee that last week gutted a bill aimed at allowing more scrutiny of public hospitals.

Sixty-three House members received anywhere from $250 to $7,500 in that election cycle, according to the MHA PAC annual report filed with the Secretary of State's Office in early 2012. The total could be higher, though, because Mississippi's lax campaign-finance reporting laws make it difficult to track all spending. The Center for Public Integrity gave the state a D grade on its campaign-finance disclosure system when it rated all the states recently.

Eleven members of the Public Health and Human Services Committee, which last week voted to limit the public hospital bill to just the Singing River Health System in Jackson County, between them received $22,500 from the PAC. MHA

opposes the bill, saying hospitals need exemptions from the Open Meetings Act "because public hospitals work much differently from other public entities in the state as they operate in a competitive business environment," MHA President and CEO Tim Moore said. "Hospitals are already providing financial information that is available to the public, and the costs to hire attorneys and personnel to handle the notices, website updates, emergency procedures, and liability concerns would be devastating financially.".....  Rest of the article. There is more, much more information in the story.

 As I wrote last week:

Make no mistake. Mr. Moore is lying through his teeth. What his associations wants is the right to have it both ways. He wants to be able to take your money for your hospitals but tell you to shut the hell up when it comes to knowing what they do with your money. The Senate bill protects patients rights and financial information that should remain confidential. However, these legitimate and serious compromises are not enough for our pampered prince over on Woodgreen Drive.   Mr. Moore spits in the faces of the taxpayers who OWN these hospitals and then tries to make like he is doing a favor. It gives a new meaning to the term "golden shower".

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/07/6109606_mississippi-hospital-association.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/07/6109606_mississippi-hospital-association.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Taxpayer money supports these hospitals. Keeping their finances secret is an abomination.

Anonymous said...

This is a drop in the bucket compared to what MHA spent to influence the last election cycle. They spent a couple million in soft dollars for campaign strategists, consultants, media, direct mail, etc via their Black Ops director Steve Dickson. However, you can't find this on their campaign finance reports...

Anonymous said...

We should all be upset! If there is nothing to hide they would want transparency! This has got to stop ! Singing River is enough for everyone to learn from! These innocent people trusted the system! It could You next! Accountability!!

Anonymous said...

Don't overlook the role that "our" doctors are playing in this game. They love it that the focus is on MHA and not them. Have you compared your doctor's lifestyle to yours lately?

Anonymous said...

Didn't MHA back the Democrats?

Anonymous said...

@9:50, have you compared your doctor's education to yours lately?

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. 7.33 a.m: In fact, I have made the comparison. I have the same number of years of education as a precious doctor. However, as you prove with your post, apparently doctors take a number of courses in arrogance which teaches that they are smarter than everyone else in every way and thus should be paid more than everyone else.

Anonymous said...

MHA was wedded to Billy McCoy and worked hard to keep him in place as the speaker.

Kingfish said...

Funded the redistricting fight for the Democrats.

Anonymous said...

MHA always has the ear of the Speaker regardless of party because they represent the hospitals and hospitals make this state run; they employ more than any other employer in the state and all speakers want to stay friends with the hospitas. It's not political just fact. Speaker Gunn has been a true friend to our state hospitals. More than Tater.

Anonymous said...

Is there any industry in Mississippi that harvests more federal dollars than healthcare?


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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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