we want enough flexibility. >> i agree on getting plans affects literally -- flexibility. the issue is how you convey that information to beneficiaries. cms needs toe, take the lead and provide guidance on how plans sellout and what is available, the limitations of the coverage. -- andan offer different they are allowed to sell, and the small differences across plans. i think it will be difficult and challenging with the proliferation of different options and iterations of the same benefits for beneficiaries. we need more guidance from cms. >> i would say, if you are not in a plan and you are shopping plans, look at the plan finder and get the coverage from the plans. it should be described in there. if you are in a plan, go to the primary solution. -- primary physician. that is determining when somebody is eligible for supplemental benefits. supplemental benefits are marketed, so it should be available. >> we have four minutes left. do i have a handout? it strikes me unstated tension on different levels of flexibility. big supporter of flexibility. sean's definition of we

i think we made improvements in both of those areas and more flexibility for farmers. research is important. trade promotion and other areas

that of flexibility. it is a particular priority for us among those three because we think that the current construct within which we're -- we're operating both the medicare and medicaid and market place exchanges is in many ways too constraining and too restrictive. and so we are taking a number of steps and you'll see us continue to take steps to give back to states greater degrees of freedom and flexibility to make program design changes that are more uniquely fitted and a better match for the markets they operate in and the populations they serve. one of the ways that we've done that in an aggressive way has to do with waiver authorities that we have both for 1115 medicaid waivers and a companion waiver, the 1332 state innovation waivers that we can apply to the market place program. and in fact, with respect to the 1332 waivers, we've seen them be very successful across a number of states that have used that authority to implement state-based reinsurance programs that have effectively taken risk out

and i also want to call up the supplemental benefit flexibility. i think that this particular change is a game changer for the program. the bb a increases flexibility for medicare advantage plans to offer new supplemental benefits to chronically ill medicare advantage enrollees. and this flexibility is absolutely critical as we are looking at addressing the social determinants of health that we know have an impact on health outcomes. every person wants to be independent. and they want to stay in their homes. allowing plans of flexibility to provide new types of benefits, something simple as just a ramp or transportation services a meal after services, these are very small things that can make a huge difference in improving health outcomes, keeping people healthy and out of the hospital, independent and will ultimately lower healthcare costs. the bba provisions will allow for better innovation of care for people who are eligible for medicare or medicaid by simplifying administrative processes to access the care that they need. and the dual eligibles

'm a big supporter of flexibility. but sean's definition of we're this and to talk about we're going going to do -- going o do services that produce short-term returns is very different than thinking about terms of a in health system and makes sense nd that is different from a third approach as to what people actually need in their lives to theyand have well being as get older, which really is social services more than health care. there's these three levels of nterventions and policy that don't always fit together very well. >> so how do we combine all of elements you're talking about to work for beneficiaries, goals, sh all the same is that what you're saying? >> of course, but it does come right?o money, as to how much money we have to commit to this. >> okay. larry. >> it does come down to money, but also, when we talk to plans, of the things that came through that sort of surprised want to work with and attract this population. this is a certain amount of low-hanging fruit, if these poorly re being served and if w

there's a whole workforce that prioritizes flexibility over cash. if you can offer your best people flexibility, you save money and can get the best people. >> it's so true. right? it's not all about salary, or that kind of compensation. there's flexibility, there's vacation. there's opportunities to learn more. you just have to be creative. i think a lot of times owners and managers just think it's all about what's in the paycheck and i mean you found out it's not at all. >> exactly. we've used that at our own company. for example, my cfo was the former cfo of giffey. that's a $1 billion huge tech unicorn. for us to attract that kind of talent we had to give her what she wanted, which was flexibility. >> john, something you've learned along the way? >> ecommerce, the age of amazon, jet.com and walmart, trying to sell a product is hard to win now. hard to win on price and convenience so you have to win in another way. at our company we try to sell digital experiences that make your life easier and better, not necessarily just sell the products. of c

there's flexibility, there is vacation, there's opportunities to learn more. you just have to be creative. i think a lot of time owners and managers just think it's all about what's in the paycheck. >> my cfo was the former cfo of gify, it's a huge tech unicorn. for inkwell to attract that talent, we had to giver what she wanted, which was flexibility. for e-commerce, trying to sell a product is difficult. it's hard to win on price. you have to win in some other way. what we try though sell is digital experiences that make your life easier and better. of course we're selling flowers, that's what we do, but we try to do it in a way that brings values in another way. it might be around sustainability because you care about that. but we also offer tools to make the orton process simpler. one is a scheduling tool. you say here are my five relyships my send -- >> so january i can schedule things for the entire year? >> and you get 20% off, so roses delivered on valentine's for $36 out the door. that does not exist -- >> forget about $36 out the door. i don't even h

we wanted to provide flexibility to the board moving forward on the program. however, i do think it's an important program and want to thank my colleagues for en t ten -- entertaining this and understand mig time is up in january 7, 2019. i know we moved the charter amendment forward in an acc accelerated rate but i appreciate my colleagues allowing this. >> supervisor: thank you, supervisor kim. supervisor brown. >> yes, thank you. i want to thank supervisor kim for this because i think this is really important for the city and i'm a co-sponsor of this legislation because i firmly believe education is a right. basic college education is increasingly important to earn a decent wage. i believe government should ensure this level of education to be available for all. with the sky-high soft -- cost of san francisco many folks cannot afford to attend legislation and if this is ratified it will provide a leg up that all san francisco people deserve. the last couple of years i've asked and worked with city college to actually be able to come out and sign up people i

the guys running bed, bath and beyond weren't flexible. buying back their own stock believing it would help. don't make the same error. when something goes wrong with the company you own, be ready to stop hoping and start selling. listen, being unwilling to recognize a turn for the worst as bad as it might be almost always seems to lead to much larger losses than you've already accrued. the bottom line, let's bring it all together before you buy a stock, do some homework and come up with a thesis, a reason why you think that stock is headed higher. once you own it, please stay flexible if your thesis doesn't play out the way you expected it to, sell the darn stock don't keep bashing your head against the wall recognize that things don't always go your way, and then. >> sell sell sell. >> move on liam in massachusetts. >> caller: booyah, jim. >> booyah, liam. >> caller: i just had a quick question about index funds you say with certain stocks buy them at certain times like monthly or quarterly or when at a good priece does that apply to ind

, be flexible in responding to new information coming in. you pointed to as being in a dark room, not knowing where you are. where is the greater downside risk? is this asymmetrical risk or asymmetrical -- is this ammetrical risk -- is this symmetrical risk or asymmetrical? five's more balanced than years ago. it seems pretty clear that the risks are tilted to the downside. i don't know if the fed will acknowledge that today. they may be reluctant to go that far. but i think that is a fair statement. there are significant risks to the downside coming from china, downwardom europe, the oil prices. the ideas of inflation seen pretty far-fetched right now. aat are the contingency plans have in mind to make sure they are able to promote full employment and price stability if in fact some of those downside risks materialize? david: it is clear that the narrative will be as important as the decision, perhaps more important. as you look at the leverage being used, they have used language -- as you look at the language being used, they have used lan

you know that's why you're so flexible exactly you know i do sit ups for my back so my back is more flexible and i can move around better. birth fest is supposed to be over but i guessed arrives a bit late. do you like some breakfast just coffee things. i have to start my day with breakfast you should have at least something to. do about the flu now things like some fruit or nothing so maybe later you can work on an empty stomach. but i've been doing it for years. that's not good for your health but if you go to. most of the guests here like this personal touch. the hotel is booked at least eighty percent of the time and many of the guests come back again and again. the sense is that a shot it's a special hotel i've been to lots of hotels but none is as personal as this one. the staff members eat at half past ten. they bring their own food. it's. a must. and they usually talk about work claudia wants her colleagues to explain why they call her the breakfast queen. what do you know why do you call me that. come on be honest. don't be shy like my husband was be open and relaxed like me we're n

. >> there are the flexibilities that already exist. so we can divide by consensus we have decided we can do it but it takes a while. there are other ones that don't really require the information technology to bring the tariffs down to zero with that that is one. $3 trillion bigger than all of the other all tariffs going down to zero is done by a group of like-minded countries so that is one final thing we can do so to bring in tariffs none of you can do that as we concluded not the most intellectual. . >> one of the issues with the rules and it revolves from china. and with the major power to deal with china as the critics say with that american-style capitalism. >> light heiser says wto would not be done on this scale. does he have a point quick. >> clearly. in the 1980s things have changed since then. china is in the nuclear market with and economy and this is all of the things not just china but with those trade practices that change with government and a change over time and i think this is a conversation we have to have. not the

i think that people should have more flexibility and choices. the affordable care act took away the right of people to choose the plan that works for their family. going forward we have to look at a health care reform package that will give more flexibility to people. host: democrats ran a lot of ads about donald trump. but kind of blame should he get? guest: there were not really any ads about donald trump in our district. we were focus on the economy -- focused on the economy and the things we have done and trying to draw the differences we have between the parties. host: keith rothfus is with us this morning. republicans, (202) 748-8001. democrats, (202) 748-8000. independents, (202) 748-8002. -- three terms, six years in congress. guest: a remarkable six years. you look at the economic reforms we have done, i had significant work on the financial services community providing the community banks. i am proud of the work we did. i did a piece of legislation to restore the rights of seniors to switch their medicare advantage plans that will be e

oisin: we encourage folks to sign up for affordable care, flexible benefits, flexible savings account. we have encouraged folks to do lots of things, but we stopped short of that line we would need to cross to put handy at risk. i think it is real important that we create these frameworks for more experimentation so we can offer more faster. we know the motivation for work has become clearer and clearer in this gig economy world. people are actively trading off economics for the purpose and meaning of their work, and flexibility. flexibility is coming up again and again for why people are choosing work at handy. people want more flexibility, the ability to set their own hours, call off and cancel, the ability to say, something has come up and i need to adjust my schedule. we've prioritized that above everything else. it is really important to preserve the flexibility that the independent contractor status gives our folks, and also the ability to negotiate some of their wages. our pros negotiating in some cases the price they get with the homeowner. that is something that falls out of

there's a whole workforce that prioritizes flexibility over cash. if you can offer your best people flexibility, you save money and can get the best people. >> it's so true, right? it's not all about salary or that kind of compensation. there's flexibility, there's vacation, there's opportunities to learn more. you just have to be creative. i think a lot of times, owners and managers just think it's all about what's in the paycheck and it's -- i mean, you've found out that it's not at all. >> exactly. and we've used that at our own company. for example, my cfo was the former cfo of gify. and for a company like ink well to be able to attract that type of talent, we had to give her what she really wanted, which was flexibility. >> john, what's something you've learned along the way? >> i think for ecommerce in the age of amazon and jet.com and walmart, being in an ecommerce business trying to sell a product is really difficult. it's hard to win on price and convenience, so you have to win in some other way. so at the bouks company, we try to sell digi

branding hong kong's flexible friend as a building material for the environmentally conscious. and why it's cuban cinema not hollywood blockbusters drawing the crowds international film festival. you know look back over here across australia particularly in queensland we haven't seen quite a bit of rain all dealing with our tropical cyclone owen now the storm is just going to be standing off the coast as a remnant over monday but still producing a lot of heavy rain along the coastal areas so flooding is still going to be a major concern across that region as we go towards tuesday the storm still stays we are looking at some windy conditions as well gusty breezy conditions but the rain is still going to be a problem up here towards townsville well down towards the south towards melbourne not look too bad but over here towards adelaide we do have a system coming out of the bite and that means we should see some afternoon thunderstorms by the time we get towards tuesday night well new zealand you're looking quite nice and that's going to continue here on monday high pressure is do

there are less flecked -- flexible health regulatory issues, they have been fitting into those square pegs into round bureaucratic holes and he will probably be needing more hammers. a different view of more limited competition in healthcare tends to favor dominant incumbents and protect them by pulling up the entry drawbridge before competitors can storm the castle. views of competition and choice can be shaped or limited by some other overriding goals like protecting the sacred relationship between doctors and payments. now many high-minded policy reforms, a bit short when the commit one of the classic blunders, and blunder number one never get involved never try to match wits with a sicilian when death is on the line, but never go up against dred medical pirates when money is on the line. a very different though older perspective on healthcare regulation would be bigger is more beautiful and better, if only those who first succeed are not later tied down and hampered by smaller minds with too much red tape. more recently, we have seen stronger incentives to grow bigger in various s

and i will continue to work for ways to allow people to have the freedom and flexibility to buy insurance that is affordable and appropriate for them and their families. we have done this with the association health plans that allow people to come and work together, and it looks like there will be about formally and people who will be able to sign up for those plans, much more affordable care for them. and there are the short term plans, which actually can be going up to three years. again, much more affordable. for some of these plans, or the short term plans, the cost can be less than half of what care is under obamacare in terms of insurance. right now, we have a number of democrats who seem to be running for president who have a position, which is to get as far away from obamacare as they can, as they try to go with a single-payer government run health care system. which brings with it higher taxes and fewer choices and the longer lines that go with government run health care programs, as we see in england and canada. i'm willing to work and i want to work with more reasonably minded

priya: i wonder if they need more flexible he. ability -- need more flexibility.re flexibility so they can buy across the year. in terms of credit, if you do have some issue on credit, can the ecb become more flexible? bu a little us government bonds .ndy bunds -- bonds and bunds i think it the ecb pitch is it more based on financial conditions and not affecting the market, the overall impact may not be that much. january, weil in can do it in january as well is as february. david: we don't have to reinvest as quickly as we have. we will get ourselves time to let this play out. bob: i would agree with that. they can garnish more flexibility out of the reinvestment program, that would remove some of the technical constraints they had to deal with as by far the most dominant buyer of the european markets, especially on the credit side. i think they will try to avoid any sense this represents a significant change in policy. as opposed to a technical adjustment. the tone will very much be on the latter versus the former. david: priya misra and bob browne will both sta

integrated planning provides flexibility for communities when they are confronted with the realities of managing waste water and stormwater systems. cities and other municipalities are charged with delivering those water utility services to residents. those same municipalities face the challenges of regulatory mandates from the environmental protection agency for waste water and stormwater systems. they also face the rising cost of these mandates, which can become severe financial burdens in repairing or replacing the aging water infrastructure. these financial burdens ultimately fall on the ratepayers. the residents of those municipalities, many of whom cannot afford dramatic and immediate increases in their monthly bills. without flexibility and the ability to prioritize projects so public health and environmental benefits can be maximized, local governments may be forced into costly consent degrees. integrating planning helps communities seek consequence their water projects. cities can use integrated planning to focus on projects that will actually deliver safe and affordable wat

we support the overall flexibility given to jenny may. we agree that prudent underwriting standards, sound of regulatory guidelines, and strong oversight are essential guardrails needed to protect taxpayers in any future system. qualifiedpport a mortgage like definition to be used as part of the underwriting process for government-backed mortgages. the discussion draft further creates the crucial role of strong regulators of the secondary mortgage market. lack of regulatory oversight was one of the many issues that led the country into the great recession. proper oversight creates a more transparent mortgage market that can offer any robust, save, and sound manner. we think the chairman for his leadership on creating a bipartisan housing finance reform proposal. we believe a conference of the bipartisan finance approach is necessary to ensure for a safe and vibrant housing market. we strongly support many of the discussion draft provisions and believe the foundation for the future system may include a government guarantee, regulatory flex

you know that's why you're so flexible exactly i do sit ups for my back so my back is more flexible and i can move around better. but first is supposed to be over but i guess derives a bit late to like some pranks.

it should be flexible, to accommodate for economic fluctuations. single, independent regulator who provide stability and confidence in markets. we do not want confusing and conflicting directives in the market. our credit unions have general concerns about the overall cost and workability, including the transition to any new housing finance system. great strides have been made to address his concerns, but we urge general caution and enhanced flexibility as major changes are contemplated to the housing finance system to ensure that reform is done right. it is also critical that any increased costs associated with establishing a new system be minimized, so as not to increase the price of borrowing for consumers. or create barriers of entry for small lenders. or allow large lenders to dominate the system. the fhfa to work with the treasury to allow gscs to increase capital. we support administrative reforms. forward to working with the new leadership at fhfa director. that the credit unions continue to have guaranteed access to the secondary market an

generally supports the overall flexibility given to ginnie mae and the fhfa to set rules and standards for market participants. n.a.r. agrees that prudent underwriting standards, sound regulatory guidelines and strong oversight are essential guardrails needed to protect taxpayers and any future system. n.a.r. also supports the qualified mortgage-like definition to be used as part of the underwriting process for government-backed mortgages. the discussion draft further creates the crucial role of strong regulators of the secondary mortgage market. lack of regulatory oversight was one of the many issues that led the country into the great recession, providing beginie mae and fhfa with proper oversight tools which will allow them to operate in a safe and robust manner. realtors thank the chairman for his leadership on creating a bipartisan housing finance reform proposal as well as other important issues osuch as regulatory reform and flood insurance. n.a.r. believes the comprehensive and bipartisan bipartisan approach is necessary to ensure for a safe and vibrant housing market. n.a.r. s

make the changes that needed to be changed because i was able to be flexible.ert: yeah, well, how gratifying was it, though, to see your work this way? ashley: very, very gratifying. robert: how 'bout the illustration? i mean, obviously, it's pretty important. harry: absolutely. robert: and what kind of combination do you think you kinda got here, working with her illustrations in this story? harry: i wanna say that she-- when we started this project, she was 16 years old, and it seemed like she was 25 years old. my other illustrator was--she basically was more mature than some of the people that i, in the past, that i worked with. and i was really blessed to really have her as the illustrator, and that she actually entered the contest. robert: well, congratulations on accomplishing this, it's great. harry: yeah, thank you so much. robert: all right, "willie's wheelchair." go out and get for your kids 'cause you can learn a lot from it. all right, thank you very much for being here. harry: okay, thank you. ashley: thank you. robert: all right, well, that's it f

we will go along with this, we will be flexible, we will push back when necessary.ut president trump shoring up that kind of midwestern base that got him elected in the first place. i think is the year has progressed, i think is the year has progressed, i think china has begun to realise, actually, this is notjust about the president. there are other lobbies and agendas in the united states that see this as much more kind of seismic and confrontational with china, notjust seismic and confrontational with china, not just about the seismic and confrontational with china, notjust about the products of yesterday, as it were, what about the whole technology space, who is going to dominate that, and really america trying to rewrite the script somewhat in terms of kind of china's inexorable economic rise. so much bigger stakes, the chinese have woken up to that, and i think as we look forward to the business climate for 2019, it is going to have much more potency than probably people thought six months ago. because that is also going to have some impact on the rest of asia

and we also gave to the accountable care organization more flexibility to offer telehealth. and i could give you more examples, the chairman could come with respect to each one of the three areas, but that's a little bit of a birds eye view of how we tried to do it. we said everybody is getting the same medicare card, but i get the current giveaways and let's start marching up the hill together, led by the chairman, jacquard update system. and as i say, all my great panther friends, what we're saying here is when updating the medicare guarantee, medicare is a guarantee, folks set at kitchen tables from portland, oregon, to portland, maine, and they can count on it. now with updating the guarantee. i'd like to just close with a couple of suggestions about where we go from here. it seems to me the first step we ought to do is make sure that a person is empowered for all seniors to be there advocate to make sure that all of their care providers are pulling on the scene ends of the rope. so the point guard, chairman hatch and i are basketball fans, would coordinate with the seni

we urge general caution and enhanced flexibility as major changes are complicated. it's critical any increased cost be minimized as to not increase the cost of borrowing for consumers. not serve as and try for small lenders and not allow large lenders to dominate the system. as congress considers reform, treasury and the fa are also evaluated potential administrative rules. we have encouraged the fhfa to work with the treasury to allow gse to begin rebuilding capital. we look forward to working with the new leadership at fhfa on these issues and more. in conclusion, it's vital that the credit unions continue to have guaranteed access to the secondary market and fair pricing on the quality of their loans. we're pleased to have thoughtful, bipartisan. thank you for the opportunity to provide our input on the support and issue and i welcome any questions. >> u.s. mortgage insurers appreciates the opportunity to come before you to discuss the housing finance system and opportunities for reform. in the comment on the housing reform proposal congressman dlan any and congr

stand is quite flexible seat can 1937. stand is quite flexible seat ca n cover 1937.n cover over it is not working. but we worked in pairs to keep checking we were doing it right, and i think we were really pleased with the end result. stephen hewitt was a driver in the field artillery looking after the horses used to ta ke looking after the horses used to take the guns into battle. he was fighting the bulgarians in greece, and when they are writing he was attacked by attacker walls and died of his injuries. for a merely a order it was an emotional day. stephen hewitt was a great grandad —— fora stephen hewitt was a great grandad —— for a merely. she only had this was happening two days before, a chance glance at a piece in a newspaper so she drove you from newcastle. —— jove newspaper so she drove you from newcastle. ——jove here. newspaper so she drove you from newcastle. — — jove herelj newspaper so she drove you from newcastle. -- jove here. i always find it a bit emotional, it is because im interested in ourfamily history and today is much more, we stopped at 11 o

rules areonnie, the quite flexible as we have learned in the past.here will several -- there were several episodes in the past where france and germany were breaking the rules, making the more flexible. you know, i think this will create a lot of noise and headlines, but the reality is, we are in an environment where fiscal policy in europe is becoming more expansionary for the reasons you have mentioned. there are protests in the streets. the typical response by government is to cut taxes, raise spending, or do both, and that is the new reality in the eurozone, as in the u.s., we will see more fiscal easing. vonnie: joachim, you mentioned the end of american exceptionalism. who takes over? joachim: nobody. nobody takes over. the u.s. was kind of to gravity this year because of the fiscal boost. the rest of the world was not defining gravity and growth slowed. there is really nobody to take over. in theory, it could be china. could massively stimulate their economy and pulled the rest out of this slowdown. dated this -- they did this back in 2009, bu

treating it as is, but the more flexible treating itasa is, but the more flexible treating it as a jointthe french, repatriating people back to the french coast. if they don't, the dangers are there for all to see? we have to do this and work jointly with the french on a humanitarian basis. the compassionate and humanitarian thing is to make sure people don't leave northern france on perilousjourneys across the english channel, a great hazard to their lives. this isn't normal travelling, its men, women and children on the high seas in the middle of winter, where they should not be. we have to stop this and stop it now. charlie elphicke, thank you very much, the mp for dover. as charlie was saying, the real concern here is amazingly no one has lost their life here, but charlie saying to me earlier, that mayjust be a matter of time unless something is done. simon, thank you very much indeed. our political reporterjessica parker is with us in the studio. this is a hot political issue for the government and home secretary in particular. the paper is making a lot of the fact he was on a luxur

going forward, we have to look at a healthcare reform package that is going to give more flexibility to people. >> democrats also ran a whole lot of ads about donald trump. how much blame should he get for losses in the house for 2018. >> there weren't any ads really about donald trump in our district and we were focused on the economy and we were focused on the things that we have done, and time to draw those differences that we have between the parties. >> ross is with us until the top of the hour and so we want to join the conversation phone lines asible and republicans 202-741-8000. independents, 202-741-8002. what's your biggest accomplishment? >> remarkable six years if you take a look at the economic reforms that we did over the last couple of years i was providing relief and very proud work there and i did a piece of legislation that restored the right for seniors to switch their medicare advantage plans that will be this coming year and the enrollment season and they have another crack at it from january 1 through march 31st to get back to a plan that they would like to have

>> i think the -- there are many flexibilities that already exist in the system. so, yes, we decide by consensus. many of the agreements that we have reached recently were decided by consensus. they are tough and they are difficult but we can do it but it takes a while. there are other types of agreements that don't really require consensus. we closed about three years ago the information technology agreement which brings tariffs down to zero on the latest generation of information technology products. and that covers trade of around $1.3 trillion. that is bigger than all of the automotive sector trade in the world. all tariffs are going down to zero. that is not a consensus decision. it is a a group of like-minded countries that want to see more liberalization in the sector. so that is one thing we can do. we can also -- but that is a bit different because that is about tariffs. so bringing tariffs down, you can do that pluri lateral, meaning not multi-lateral but they could do that for rules as well. >> so one of the issues with the rules as the trump administra

and the band rebranding hong kong's flexible friend as a building material for the environmentally conscious. to welcome back to international weather forecasts we're here across europe we are looking at some very rainy weather here across parts of italy as well as towards croatia and in some of those higher elevations that means we are going to be seeing snow here on monday that system is going to be moving quite quickly down here towards the southeast really affecting greece over the next couple days with some windy conditions as well so we watching that also over here towards the north though it is going to be quite cold for parts of russia with moscow is going to be seeing about minus ten degrees over here towards key of your high is only going to be minus six and now here towards the west we're looking at another system coming in off the atlantic with some very windy conditions not only for the u.k. but also down here towards parts of portugal as well well for the northern part of africa bad for most of the areas but where we are going to see the weather is out here towards the east alo