On this week's edition of "Wingin' It Wednesday", panelist Mike StaggCarol Ross, and Ton Angers in for Warren Caudle joined "Mornings with Ken and Bernie" to discuss the transfer of ownership of University Medical Center from publicly held LSU to privately owned Lafayette General, as well as a proposed California law that would allow girls and boys to use the same bathrooms in schools.

Here's what the panel had to say:

1. Through an agreement with the state, Lafayette General Medical Center will assume control of University Medical Center this Sunday night at midnight.  Do you feel this arrangement will benefit the community and fulfill the state’s medical responsibilities?

Tom Angers started us off:

UMC was previously part of the Charity Hospital system and as I understood it it was transferred to the LSU school of medicine. Apparently the school of medicine wasn't the best for hospital administration. I think generally privatization should help regarding as far as providing quality services. I think if the state is committed to the public policy helping the really poor, what will Lafayette General actually do? Will they expand services? I think the poorest of poor should have neonatal care.
There was talk of starting a medical school, which apparently didn't get funded. Lafayette General has a good record for administration so I hope it will work out.

Mike Stagg added:

The state under a constitutional amendment gave LSU control of UMC in 1997. The cuts were made by the Jindal Administration. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the transfer under a lease agreement that will make Lafayette General rich. It's not in the best interest of the state of Louisiana. The privatization is costing the tax payers more money than it costs to operate the LSU system. The state has entered into longterm leases for up to 50 years and will not have the ability to control costs.
The so called "free enterprise" governor has gone into 10 hospital markets in Louisiana and chosen winners.

Carol Ross concluded:

What we do know is the charity hospital system was short stopping medical dollars coming into this state and really damaging the health care system in a lot of ways.
I think the people at Lafayette General are very sincere in what they're trying to do. Do you think LSU would have given it up if it were a good deal for the state? This was not working and it was not going to work. I'm willing to give them all the benefit of the doubt.
The question is, as with other Jindal so called "reforms" we do not have financial information. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed, I think the private sector would do a better job than than the public sector so I'm willing to give them a chance to make it work.

Warren Caudle, Carol Ross, Mike Stagg; KPEL 965

2. Should boys who think they are girls be allowed to use the locker rooms and bathrooms of their choice? That’s the issue facing California lawmakers as they consider Assembly Bill 1266 – legislation that would require all public schools to allow students to access to facilities consistent with their gender identity.

Mike commented:

At what age do you get to determine gender you are? Where does this begin and where does it end? This is a little bit of political corruptness run amuck.

Tom responded:

I think a boy that wants to be a girl should not be able to go into the girls' changing room.

Carol surmised:

When is gender a choice? I think at conception. But gender identity is a total matter all together. To paraphrase Jimmy Cochran, "If they do not sit, they should quit - pushing this law"
As one of the guys said rationalizing this stupid law, "Discomfort is not an excuse for discrimination, so if these girls feel uncomfortable they should just deal with it". These people are totally out of control and I hope this is not a harbinger for the rest of the country.

Now it’s your turn to tell us what you think about today’s Wingin’ It Wednesday topics. Who got it right, who got it wrong, and who was way off? Let us know in the comment section.

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