Monthly Archives: June 2017

Doug Finke GateHouse Media Illinois

SPRINGFIELD Day one of the special legislative session ended quickly Wednesday with no movement on settling the states budget impasse, but with more of the finger-pointing that has characterized Illinois government for most of the last three years.

Republican lawmakers said the next move is up to House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who has yet to outline specifics of a tax-and-spending plan that he and House Democrats will support.

House Democrats again complained about ads and mailers financed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Republican Party that attack Madigan and Democrats at the same time they need to work together to pass a budget or the pro-business changes Rauner wants.

Both the House and Senate spent only a few minutes actually in the 10-day special session called by Rauner to deal with budget issues. They will return for day two at noon Thursday. The states fiscal year ends June 30.

Democrats held a private meeting to review a Republican proposal that calls for spending $36 billion next year and not increasing that amount for four years. Rauner and Republican lawmakers have touted the plan as a compromise that should be acceptable to everyone.

There are some things in it I think we could be in agreement with. There are some things in it we could be in opposition to, said Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago, the House Democrats top budget negotiator. I think we looked at the Senate Democratic plan the same way.

Senate Democrats have approved a $37.3 billion spending plan, but it has not been taken up by the House.

Several Republican lawmakers held a news conference Wednesday morning to say the next move is basically up to Madigan.

It is important that the House Democrats come to the table to meet a compromise that moves forward for the people of Illinois, said Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, a principal author of the Republican spending proposal. The only caucus that has not put forward a plan of their own is the House Democrats.

Where is the speaker? That is the central question before us today, said Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Madigan said hes in the same place that hes been in for the last 2 years.

That we ought to work on balancing the budget. That means there should be cuts and new revenue, Madigan said. Ive said that for 2 years.

Madigan said House Democrats have been working on a spending plan for several weeks that is not too far apart from the Republican spending plan.

House Democrats again Wednesday criticized Rauner and the state Republican Party for attacking Madigan and other Democrats while also saying they want to work with them to resolve the budget impasse. Rauner delivered a short speech Tuesday night that he billed as a call for unity ahead of the special session.

I think people would like to see us have the unity like the governor talked about the other night, but you cant ask for unity while youre spending millions and millions of dollars attacking the people youre trying to get unity with, Harris said.

Since the Democrat-controlled General Assembly failed to approve a budget by May 31, it will require Republican votes in the House to pass anything. It now takes a supermajority of 71 votes to pass bills in the House, including a budget. Democrats hold 67 seats.

Speaker Madigan and the House Democrats will need Republican votes if they want to end this impasse, said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. It is up to them. The time for just having vague, general discussions is over.

Durkin also said Republicans are done with committees-of-the-whole in which the entire House hears testimony on a particular topic. However, thats exactly what the Democrats have in mind for Thursday and Friday. Thursday will be given over to a hearing on workers compensation changes, not the first time the House has done this. On Friday, the House will conduct a hearing on a property tax freeze.

Rauner and Republicans want to freeze property taxes for four years. The Senate approved a two-year freeze. Senate President John Cullerton said a longer freeze could harm financially vulnerable school districts.

During Wednesdays news conference, Durkin reiterated that the House Republicans arent interested in another stopgap measure if agreement cant be reached on full-year budget. Cullerton has also said he will not consider another stopgap spending plan since the Senate has approved a budget. And Rauner has said he wont sign a stopgap without approval of the other reforms hes been demanding.

Still, Harris said the House Democrats have not ruled anything in or out when it comes to a stopgap budget.

Lawmakers will meet in special session each day until June 30, including this weekend, unless they approve a budget earlier than that.

Contact Doug Finke: doug.finke@sj-r.com, (217) 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr.

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First day of special session ends with no progress - Peoria Journal Star

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'The View' Panelists Claim Democrat's Loss Is Actually 'Slow Progress' - NewsBusters (press release) (blog)

On June 20, CMS published a much-anticipated proposed rule that, according to a CMS press release,(www.cms.gov) aims to simplify the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in 2018.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act requires that the program be updated annually.

The proposed rule, available now for public inspection(s3.amazonaws.com) and scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on June 30, devotes special attention to the hurdles faced by physicians in small, independent and rural practices who want to participate in the program.

At the same time, it addresses other CMS primary responsibilities: ensuring fiscal sustainability of the Medicare program and maintaining a high level of quality care for Medicare beneficiaries.

"We've heard the concerns that too many quality programs, technology requirements and measures get between the doctor and the patient," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma, M.P.H., in the release. "That's why we're taking a hard look at reducing burdens."

The proposal seeks to ease the onerous administrative tasks that bog physicians down and keep them from their clinical responsibilities, she noted.

"We aim to improve Medicare by helping doctors and clinicians concentrate on caring for their patients rather than filling out paperwork," said Verma.

"CMS will continue to listen and take actionable steps towards alleviating burdens and improving health outcomes for all Americans that we serve."

In response to the proposal's release, the AAFP published a statement, attributed to AAFP President John Meigs, M.D., of Centreville, Ala., expressing overall support.

"The proposed regulation will improve the ability of family physicians to participate successfully in payment reforms envisioned by the bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act," said Meigs in the statement.

He noted that in addition to CMS' apparent effort to tame the administrative duties that plague physicians, an initial -- albeit brief -- review of the proposal revealed progress on other fronts.

For example, Meigs said the AAFP was pleased to see that the agency had incorporated some of the Academy's suggestions regarding medical homes, including a gradual rollout of the financial risk borne by these entities, as well as steps taken to reduce risk "for practices of all sizes" that are participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.

The AAFP also praised CMS for addressing virtual groups.

"This is a solid step forward in leveling the playing field for small practices who -- without a mechanism by which they can join other practices for reporting purposes -- would be subject to a negative payment adjustment," said the statement.

As always, a dedicated team of AAFP staff members will now dive into the details of the proposal and conduct a thorough analysis before the Academy responds to CMS within the 60-day commenting period allowed.

Related AAFP News Coverage MACRA: The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act

More From AAFP MACRA Ready: The Shift to Value-Based Payment

Additional Resource CMS fact sheet(www.cms.gov)

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First Look at Proposed Rule Shows Progress in Easing Burdens - AAFP News

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guru and a man who has built a reputation by being one of the leagues best coaches at shutting down opposing offenses.

But after Minnesotas offensive line struggled with injuries and execution in 2016, Zimmer has had more of a hand in helping the line get ready for the upcoming season.

Part of it is, I want them to know Ive got their back, Zimmer said. Im going to sit in there with them. Im listening to them and communicating with them. Im trying to tell them things, defensively.

I talk to Sam [Bradford] all the time about things that I think defensively and how other people might think. While Im sitting in there they might ask me, With this rotation, wheres the blitz coming from? Or, Hows the linebacker going to react to this kind of play and things like this. Ill tell them the things that I see thats really tough on a defensive end or whatever, Zimmer said. I think its been good and its not that Im overlooking any of those guys. I want them to know that theyre my guys.

The Vikings used eight different starting offensive line combinations in 2016, and started five different left tackles. Minnesota ranked last in the NFL with 1,205 rushing yards and was last with an average of 3.2 yards per carry.

The Vikings and General Manager Rick Spielman beefed up the line this offseason, adding a pair of tackles in Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. Both are expected to start this season.

Minnesota also added center/guard Pat Elflein and guard Danny Isidora in the draft, bringing young talent to the position group.

Veteran Joe Berger, who started 2016 at center and finished at right guard, worked at right guard with the first team during Organized Team Activity and minicamp practices beside center Nick Easton.

Add it all up, and left guard Alex Boone could be the only lineman who resumes the same starting spot he had at the start of the 2016 season.

With Reiff and Remmers on the outside, the interior of the line could see Boone at left guard, Easton at center and Berger at right guard.

Zimmer noted that Easton and Elflein will fight for playing time during training camp.

Theyre both doing good, Zimmer said. Again, its going to come down into training camp and things like that. We may look at some other scenarios as well.

With Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano back for his second season in Minnesota, players said they can sense a revamped attitude within the unit.

Ive got great teammates, great guys in the room, Reiff said earlier this spring. Were in the beginning steps right now. Were working. Its all we can do. Im not going to say much, but were out there working together, building camaraderie.

Added Remmers: Just from what Ive heard from the guys who have been here, going into this season has been a completely different change of pace and a different mindset. From what Ive seen, everyone works so hard here. Were going to do everything we possibly can to have the most success on the field.

At the end of spring practices, Zimmer noted the real test will come in pads whether thats at training camp or in the preseason.

But in the few weeks that Zimmer has spent with his new-look offensive line, he likes what he observed.

They seem pretty focused, Zimmer said. Theyre not a big joke-around room, they have their little fun here and there. I think they just want to get it right.

Like Reiff said to me, Ive made money in this game, I just want to win a Super Bowl. Thats kind of his mentality, Zimmer added. I think its good for the football team.

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Zimmer Evaluates Progress of Revamped O-Line - Minnesota Vikings - Vikings.com

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., right, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif. walk to a security briefing for lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 14, 2017, after a gunman opened fire wounding House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise of La., and others during a Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. J. Scott ApplewhiteAP

One week after Steve Scalise was shot during a congressional baseball practice, the congressman has continued to improve, with his condition upgraded from serious to fair.

"Congressman Steve Scalise continues to make good progress. He is now listed in fair condition and is beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation," Medstar Washington Hospital, where Scalise is being treated, said in a statement Wednesday.

On June 17, the last time the hospital provided an update, the hospital said his condition was "serious," and that he had undergone another surgery but was continuing to improve. Before that, he had been in critical condition since he was brought to the hospital in shock after the shooting.

Scalise was shot Wednesday June 14, after a gunman opened fire at a GOP congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. He was shot in the left hip, and t he bullet injured his internal organs.

"Hes in some trouble," President Donald Trump said last Thursday, "but hes a great fighter, and hes going to be OK, we hope."

The FBI said Wednesday they believe shooter James Hodgkinson , 66, of Illinois, who was killed in gunfire exchange with law enforcement, acted alone when he opened fire on the baseball practice.

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Steve Scalise Making 'Good Progress' After Shooting, Hospital Says - TIME