Vitter opposes to plans to build a new Charity Hospital in N.O.
by GERARD SHIELDS - Advocate (excerpt)

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., met with Department of House and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan this past week to express his opposition to plans to build a new Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

Calling the project “mega-Charity,” Vitter expressed worry that federal support for the 424-bed complex will create a liability for taxpayers. The $1.2 billion construction costs would be boosted by $400 million in bonds backed by a HUD program.

Vitter had sent Donovan a letter expressing the same concerns earlier in the week. Since the beginning of the rebuilding discussions, Vitter has said his first choice is to gut the existing Charity Hospital shell and build a new state-of-the-art facility within it.