Perdue & McCrory on budget bill change on state hospitals

North Carolina's candidates for governor issued dueling statements Wednesday in response to a last-minute change in the state budget approved Wednesday that will make it easier for the administration of Gov. Mike Easley to open a new mental hospital in Butner and close Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh.

The campaign of Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic candidate, sent an e-mail statement Wednesday morning.

"I strongly disagree with the budget provision that allows patients to be transferred to Central Regional Hospital before Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Commission (JCAHO) standards are met," said the statement attributed to Perdue. "Secretary Benton should not authorize transfer until Central Regional meets those standards -- the long-term safety and care of both patients and staff must not be compromised."

The campaign of Republican candidate Pat McCrory issued a statement reaffirming his opposition to closing Dix.

"In another secret back room meeting, the political establishment in Raleigh has arrogantly dismissed the welfare of mental health patients and decreed through the budget that the state does not have to comply with the same regulations it places on everyone else," said McCrory, who is mayor of Charlotte. He said Perdue, the presiding officer of the Senate, should have stopped the change in the budget.

(from the News and Observer, 7/10/08, http://www.newsobserver.com/2771/story/1136633.html )