Big story on the front page of The Oregonian yesterday about the uproar over Peter Kohler's plan to become the new chair of the Texas Pacific Group unit that's trying to take over Portland General Electric. Kohler, president of Oregon Health and Sciences University here in Portland, is the new local face card in the Texas Pacific bid, replacing disgraced former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, a West Hills crony who stepped down after being outed for statutory rape.

Kohler has drawn fire for his planned new side job, including some serious heat from City Commissioner Randy Leonard. As told by The O, the principal protest goes something like this: Kohler shouldn't take the Texas Pacific gig because he has a conflict of interest. How can he do what's best for OHSU, which is a large consumer of PGE power, while at the same time looking out for the new PGE shareholders, including himself? (He's planning to personally buy a half-million dollars' worth of stock in the new company.)

To me that's far too genteel a criticism of Kohler. Let's take the gloves off, shall we? And talk about what's really wrong with this cute little deal.

The man makes $600,000 a year as the president of OHSU. That's as in, six. Hundred. Thousand. U.S. Dollars. On top of a company car and free housing. Except for perhaps a couple of state university major sports coaches, he must be the highest paid education official, and the highest paid public official, in the history of the State of Oregon.

$600,000 a year breaks down to $11,538.46 a week. Even assuming that he works 50 hours a week, that's $230.77 an hour, on top of free transportation and housing. For that kind of money, the man should eat, drink, sleep, and breathe OHSU. He shouldn't be gallivanting around at some part-time side occupation that's completely unrelated to the Pill Hill mission.

He claims overseeing PGE will take "only" two days a month. That's a half day a week, folks. What if the governor announced that he was taking off every Tuesday at noon to play golf, and not returning to his office until Wednesday? How would that play with the public? Much less moonlighting to the tune of another $125,000 a year, plus $1,000 per meeting attended, as Kohler wants to do.

At the good doctor's salary rate, a half day costs the medical school more than $1,100, which adds up to around $60,000 a year.

Is there another word for this besides "arrogance"?

Last but not least, I couldn't help but notice this passage in the O story:

Indeed, the 66-year-old endocrinologist is hailed as a visionary who transformed OHSU from a run-down teaching hospital to an academic powerhouse.

I'm sure all the little people who have been working hard at OHSU for many years really loved reading that.