Abortion activists send DHH chief off with protest
by MARK BALLARD - Advocate (excerpt)

An anti-abortion group marked state Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine’s last day on the job Friday with a protest saying Louisiana’s health chief did too little to shut down abortion clinics during his 31-month tenure.

Standing with about 15 protesters, who were praying and reciting the rosary outside the Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge Inc. on Colonial Drive, protest leader Richard Mahoney said Levine’s DHH had found violations during an investigation but has taken no action. “He’s had months to make sure these people are prosecuted for violating the regulations,” Mahoney said. “Why is this clinic still open?”

Mahoney said DHH under Levine has failed to follow up on a number of violations he says the abortion clinic has committed, including improper staffing, dangerous procedures and mishandling of prescription drugs. “Alan Levine is leaving today and says he has done the job. I’d just like to know what job he has done?” asked protester Newman Roblin, a retired chemical worker. Levine officially steps down Sunday as head of the state’s health-care agency with $7.7 billion in spending — about 30 percent of the state’s total budget — and 9,398 employees. But his last day in the office was Friday, and Levine said he plans to head to Florida this morning.