Governor Beshear, with consultation from the Attorney General’s office, again rejected “suggestions” offered by James Ramsey and Jim Tayor that were intended to make more acceptable the addition of the University of Louisville and its Hospital to the newly merged Catholic Health Care Initiatives entity in Kentucky. The Governor thought not!
The substance of the suggestions was not initially made public. Even the Governor’s office curiously called them “private and proprietary.” However, President Ramsey has given his version of them to the UofL community in a broadside that continues this matter with some open threats. (Read his message here.) In fact, President Ramsey seems openly to have picked a fight with the Governor and Attorney General by claiming an alternate version of reality. “We began our in depth merger conversations with the governor 18 months ago. He has never expressed any concerns to us about the governance structure of the proposed merged entity.” I do not have a feeling that this is going to end well for Dr. Ramsey and the University!
I am surprised at the continuing secrecy, especially since this whole merger-matter has been widely criticized for inappropriate secrecy and private dealings. Dr. Taylor did not initially reveal this new Plan-B, telling us that the University wanted the Governor to have a chance to reflect on it. I maintain because now that President Ramsey has released his own obviously self-serving version of the suggestions, we of the public have a right to hear it all. I believe the University has already waived its “privacy” with regard to its amended merger propositions, if indeed it was ever entitled to such special treatment. Continue reading “My Way or the Highway! UofL Takes Hostages.”