By Joan C. McKinney, director of university communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky’s Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo focused on adventure tourism and healthcare as he addressed about 200 people at the Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce Banquet June 5 at Campbellsville University.
Mongiardo, who taped a show with John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations that will be shown on CU’s TV-4, said, “Anything you want to do outdoors, we have it in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The TV-4 show, titled “Dialogue on Public Issues,” will be aired at 8 a.m. Sunday, June 29; 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 30; and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, over Comcast Cable Channel 10 in Campbellsville.
Mongiardo said he wants to make Kentucky a destination where tourists can visit the lakes, streams and wildlife areas in the Commonwealth.
Mongiardo, who himself is a great outdoorsman, said he wants to have outdoor horse and four wheeler trials, where people can travel across the Commonwealth. He cited Taylor County’s Green River Lake as a great natural resource in which to fish and boat and the wildlife areas are good for hunting and photography.
“We need a multi-statewide trail where we can tie together the entire state,” he said.
Mongiardo, who is a surgeon, said healthcare costs too much, and he believes the high cost is the biggest domestic problem in the country. He said 50 million Americans do not have insurance in the commonwealth, and, “We need a revolution in healthcare.”
Mongiardo said the nation needs a laboratory in which insurance is researched, and, “We need to reform the delivery system.” He said all physicians should have the same information on patients to avoid duplicating services, such as X-rays, etc.
“We must have physicians have the same information on each patient so they can treat that patient no matter what city in which they live,” he said.
He said Kentucky has an opportunity to show how smart, driven and full of passion we are as we work with these problems.
“I think the citizens of Kentucky love their state more than any other. You have to have great passion and the right people,” he said.
He complimented Campbellsville on the city and county’s many resources.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 29 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.