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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), one of the three votes that sank Senate Republicans latest attempt to repeal Obamacare, said on Sunday that she got most input on the matterfrom Vice President Mike Pence, not his boss.

Most of the input Ive had from the White House has been from the vice president and from the administrator of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, Collins said on NBC News Meet the Press.

Collinscited two meetings she attended at the White House, one seated beside President Donald Trump, to discuss health care.

I do want to make clear that the president invited me to the two meetings, she said. That was a few weeks ago.

Collinssaid on CNNs State of the Union that Pence approached her on the Senate floor Friday night before the vote and tapped her on the shoulder.

Boy, are you tough, Pence told her, according to Collins. She added, But he softened that by putting his arm around me.

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Collins Says She Got Most Input On O'Care Repeal From Pence, Not Trump - TPM

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence arrived in Estonia Sunday afternoon, kicking off a three-country visit of Eastern Europe.

The Pences, who left from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Saturday night, were greeted at the Tallinn airport by U.S. ambassador to Estonia James D. Melville and Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser. The group shook hands and spoke briefly before the vice president's motorcade headed to the Pences' hotel.

"On behalf of @POTUS, arrived in Tallinn, Estonia with @SecondLady to meet w/ leaders of Baltic States on security & prosperity #VPinEurope," Pence tweeted upon his arrival.

"On my way to Estonia, Georgia and Montenegro to meet with leaders in the region on behalf of @POTUS. Keep up with #VPinEurope," Pence tweeted Saturday night, along with a photo of himself boarding Air Force Two.

In explaining the purpose of the trip, a senior Trump administration official told reporters last week, "This builds upon the administrations engagement. The Secretary of Defense had been there recently, and it builds upon the Vice Presidents trip when we addressed some of these leaders at the Munich Security Conference when he met with the three Baltic Presidents then. And he has since hosted the Prime Minister of Georgia here at the White House, as did the President. And then on Montenegros accession into NATO, we also hosted leadership here in the White House."

The office of Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas said in a press release Saturday that Ratas and Pence will meet at 5:30 p.m. local time, to "discuss cooperation in defence, digital issues and cyber defence, as well as cooperation between the US and the EU in connection with the Estonia Presidency of the Council of the European Union."

Ratas said in a statement, "The contribution of the US to the security of the Baltic States and also the whole of Europe is vital, and I certainly wish to thank the Vice President for that. Besides that, we plan to speak about the Estonian digital solutions that are of interest to the US, and developing cooperation in cyber defence at our meeting. Another important topic that will be on the table, is the cooperation between the EU and the US."

A senior White House administration official told reporters last week that while in Estonia, Pence "will highlight our strong bilateral ties, including by trade and investment. And particularly with Estonia, successes in the cyber realm, and their current partnership on cyber issues, and their leading not only in that region, but globally."

On Thursday, Karen Pence expressed her enthusiasm for the trip, tweeting "Looking forward to our visit to Eastern Europe where I highlight my iniative, art therapy. What an honor!"

According to the second lady's office, she will tour a medical center in Tallinn, and participate in a roundtable discussion with art therapists.

The senior administration official said in Georgia, the vice president will "highlight our commitment to the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership, our strong support Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity ... and its internationally recognized borders, and our support for Georgia and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

While in Georgia, Karen Pence will visit with patients of an art therapy program in Tbilisi.

On Wednesday, Pence will attend the Adriatic Charter Summit in Podgorica, Montenegro, to highlight the U.S. commitment to the Western Balkans and underscore the importance of good governance, political reforms and rule of law. Also expected to attend are the leaders of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

In Podgorica, Montenegro, the second lady will tour a honey farm, where she will learn about a local family's beekeeping business.

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Mike Pence arrives in Estonia, kicking off Eastern Europe trip - ABC News

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) suggested on Saturday that Vice President Pence is already planning his inauguration in anticipation of President Trump's impeachment.

"Mike PenceMike (Michael) Richard PenceWaters: Pence is planning his inauguration Hackers break into voting machines in minutes at hacking competition Timeline: Trump's relationship with Priebus MORE is somewhere planning an inauguration. Priebus and Spicer will lead the transition," Waters wrote on Twitter, referring to former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, both of whom resigned their positions over the past week.

Mike Pence is somewhere planning an inauguration. Priebus and Spicer will lead the transition.

To be sure, impeachment proceedings against Trump are unlikely to advance in the near future. But Waters has been among the president's most vocal opponents in Congress and has repeatedly raised the notion of booting him from office.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) filed a resolution earlier thismonth accusing Trump of obstructing justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey, who was, at the time, charged with leading the law enforcement investigation into possible collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

Sherman's resolution, co-sponsored by Rep. Al GreenAl GreenWaters: Pence is planning his inauguration House Financial Services panel leaders spar over Trump, Russia Overnight Finance: Dems roll out 'Better Deal' economic agenda | Regulators mull changes to 'Volcker Rule' | Gingrich, small biz launch tax cut campaign MORE (D-Texas), marked the first impeachment articles filed against Trump.

But that effort drew little support from Democrats, let alone Republicans, making the process unlikely to advance soon.

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Waters: Pence is planning his inauguration - The Hill

John Kelly, the Trump administration's newest staffer, wasn't the only chief of staff who spent Friday acclimating to his new position: So was Vice President Mike Pence's new chief of staff, Nick Ayers, who was sworn in Friday and officially assumes the role on Tuesday.

But given the announcement Friday of the resignation of White House chief of staff Reince Preibus, it's not surprising that Ayer's swearing-in was eclipsed by the Oval Office staff shake-up.

"Congrats to @Nick_Ayers for being sworn-in as my Chief of Staff," Pence tweeted, along with photos of Ayers being sworn in, next to his wife and children. "Excited to welcome you & great having your family at @WhiteHouse today."

Ayers retweeted Pence, adding a shout-out to his new colleague, "Honored and humbled beyond words. Excited to partner with General Kelly to serve and support @POTUS and @VP #MAGA."

Unlike the Preibus-Kelly shakeup, which took some by surprise, the vice president's change in staff lacks similar drama and intrigue.

Pence's office announced in late June that Ayers, a longtime political operative from Georgia who advised Pence during the 2016 campaign and while he served as Indiana governor, would in August replace Josh Pitcock.

"I am pleased to welcome Nick Ayers to the Office of the Vice President," Pence said in a statement at the time. "During my years as Governor, then as a candidate and serving as Vice President, I have come to appreciate Nick's friendship, keen intellect and integrity and I couldnt be more excited to have him come to the White House as my Chief of Staff. I am sincerely grateful to him, and his wife Jamie, for their willingness to serve our office and this administration."

And Ayers, who has been a leader of the pro-Trump outside group America First Policies, said, "I have such deep respect and admiration for the Pences and believe so deeply in the policies the Vice President and the President are fighting for. Leaving Georgia - albeit temporarily - was only possible because of how important my wife and I believe this mission is. I am honored with the trust the Vice President has in me and excited to serve in this capacity."

As for Pitcock, who served as a top aide to Pence while he served in Congress and as governor, Pence said, "Josh Pitcock's more than twelve years of service have played an invaluable role throughout my public career. His professionalism and integrity are unmatched and he will be missed. I will always be grateful for the foundation Josh laid in the Office of the Vice President and wish him every success in his future endeavors. Whatever the future holds for Josh and his family, he will remain one of my most trusted advisors and cherished friends."

Pitcock cited a desire to transition to the private sector for his departure. "Deciding to leave was not easy, but I believe the time is right for me to transition to the private sector," he said. "Nick and I have worked seamlessly together for years and will continue to do so through the transition and thereafter."

Excerpt from:
Another new chief of staff: VP Mike Pence swears in Nick Ayers - ABC News

Vice President Mike Pence on Friday praised President Donald Trump's selection of John Kelly as his new White House chief of staff, saying that former homeland security secretary "will do a great job."

Pence posted on Twitter:

He also congratulated Reince Priebus, who told CNN that he tendered his resignation on Thursday:

Trump announced Kelly's appointment via Twitter shortly after praising him at a speech in New York in vowing to destroy the violent MS-13 street gang.

He officially starts on Monday.

"Reince is a good man," Trump told reporters after leaving Air Force One when he returned from the New York speech. "John Kelly will do a fantastic job.

"Gen. Kelly has done an incredible job thus far, respected by everybody. A great, great American.

"Reince Priebus, a good man," Trump said.

Rep. PeteKing, who introduced the president at his speech at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood, said praised both Kelly and Priebus.

"I have a tremendous regard for Gen. Kelly," the Long Island Republican told Wolf Blitzer on CNN. "He's just a top-rate person.

"I had a very good relationship with Reince Priebus. I have nothing bad to say about Reince Priebus.

"This is the president's decision," he added.

"I wished him well, wished Reince well.

"I certainly think Secretary Kelly will do an outstanding job."

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Mike Pence to Kelly: 'You Will Do a Great Job' - Newsmax