From the Baton Rouge Business Report

Jindal questions efficiency of Vitter hospital plan


Gov. Bobby Jindal is questioning whether an alternative proposal for a New Orleans public medical center, involving the purchase of two Tulane University hospitals, would be the most efficient way to build a new teaching facility. But Jindal says he's planning to talk to U.S. Sen. David Vitter, House Speaker Jim Tucker and Treasurer John Kennedy to get more details of what they're suggesting before making a decision on whether he thinks it's a workable proposal. The meeting will take place after the legislative session ends on June 23. Vitter, Tucker and Kennedy this week pitched an alternative to the University Medical Center proposal sought by LSU and backed by Jindal. The trio says their idea would cost $800 million, compared to $1.2 billion for the current plan.