Friday, August 28, 2015
Rural Hospitals Fight for Survival
Pew Charitable Trusts reports on how rural hospitals are trying to form alliances as they fight for survival.
There are approximately 2,300 rural hospitals in the U.S., most of them concentrated in the Midwest and the South. For a variety of reasons, many of them are struggling to survive. In the last five years, Congress has sharply reduced spending on Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly, and the patients at rural hospitals tend to be older than those at urban or suburban ones. Rural hospitals in sparsely populated areas see fewer patients but still have to maintain emergency rooms and beds for acute care. They serve many people who are uninsured and can’t afford to pay for the services they receive.
Fiat Funny
From the Facebook page of the mighty Jason Rosenbaum… Scene from a two-person press gaggle with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on legislative opposition to extending Edward Jones Dome bonds w/o a legislative or popular vote:
Jason Rosenbaum: "Isn't that significant enough opposition to give you pause about whether doing it by fiat is workable?"
Nixon: "First of all, I don't know what this term you're making up as far as doing it by some sort of French car has got to do with what we're talking about."
To be clear: The governor almost certainly knows what "by fiat" means. This was a humorous way to get me to be more specific. I then said "extend the bonds without a legislative or popular vote." I thought this was a pretty funny retort on the governor's part, so I thought I'd share to FaceSpace.
Water Fight
AP reports on the new federal rules intended to protect lesser waterways, but which some states (including Missouri) feel are intrusive. See it here.
Pull Quote: A federal court ruling Thursday, hours before the rules were to go into effect, blocked the regulations in 13 states. Those states had sued the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, arguing that the rules are federal overreach and could be costly and confusing for landowners. The government says the new rules will help protect the nation's waters from pollution and development, and safeguard drinking water for 117 million Americans.
Koster Press Release
Attorney General Chris Koster said today that a federal judge has blocked EPA's new clean water rule from taking effect as scheduled on August 28, 2015. Granting a motion for preliminary injunction filed by Missouri and 12 other states, Judge Ralph Erikson of the U.S. District Court of North Dakota found "the states are likely to succeed on their claim because it appears likely that the EPA has violated its Congressional grant of authority in its promulgation of the Rule at issue and it appears likely the EPA failed to comply with APA requirements when promulgating the Rule."
"In issuing the preliminary injunction," Koster said, "the federal court sent an unmistakable message to the EPA: You have gone too far. Missouri's land and water resources should be regulated by officials accountable to the people of the state, not by arbitrary standards dictated from Washington DC."
Bits
As we enter the final days of the month, tax receipts of the state appear on track to be solid, with the bellwether individual income tax receipts up around 8%.
Governor Jay Nixon re-appointed Garry Kemp to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. “Kemp is retired as executive vice president of the Greater KC Building and Construction Trades Council of the AFL-CIO.”
Help Wanted
House Research Division seeks Drafting Services Attorney. “This position is responsible for drafting and analyzing legislation and other documents, preparing legal and policy research and assisting Members of the House with lawmaking duties... Starting salary range begins at $3,624 per month, however starting salary commensurate with applicable education and experience…” See ad here.
Missouri Division of Professional Registration/Board of Healing Arts seeks Associate General Counsel. “This position is responsible for attending Board and Commission meetings; providing legal counsel to the Board and it’s Advisory Committees to ensure compliance with laws affecting day-to-day operations of the Board and the Sunshine Law; litigating cases before the Board, Administrative Hearing Commission and Circuit Courts; serving as legal advisor to the Board in disciplinary hearings; drafting and reviewing settlement agreements, Board orders, contracts and other legal documents….” See the ad here.
Office of the Attorney General seeks Assistant Attorney General. “The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is looking for an experienced attorney for its Governmental Affairs Division in Jefferson City. The position will handle litigation matters, including circuit court challenges to state agency actions and administrative law proceedings related to licensed professions…” See the ad here.
New Committees
Richard W McKie formed an exempt committee (he will not raise more than $500) to run for House 29 as a Constitutional candidate.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Michael Butler Golf – Forest Park Golf Course – STL – 4PM.
Saturday: Missouri Democratic Party’s Truman Dinner – Busch Stadium – STL .
Lobbyists Registrations
Steven Tilley and John Bardgett added Healthcare Enterprise Metrics; and deleted Healthcare Fraud Shield.
Erika Leonard added Healthcare Enterprise Metrics.
$5K+ Contributions
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from AT&T.
Citizens for DeMoss - $10,000 from Brian DeMoss.
Citizens for Maria Chappelle-Nadal - $10,000 from Express Scripts.
MO Democratic State Committee - $7,500 from Missouri Relators PAC Inc.
Citizens for Burlison - $20,000 from Bill Burlison.
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $33,500 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Ameren Missouri Political Action Committee - $150,000 from Ameren Missouri.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,100 from Ronald and Catherine Neville.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep Shamed Dogan (37), former Rep. John Diehl (50), Percy Green II.
Saturday: Jack Atterberry, Stephen M. Gregali, and Lou Hamilton.
Sunday: Jason Hancock.