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The acknowledgment comes just days out from an expected House vote on the GOP legislation to gut Obamacare, and puts further pressure on undecided conservatives to take an official stance on their party's landmark proposal.

Conservative senators hoping for changes to the Republican health care bill emerged from a meeting at the White House Monday afternoon disappointed, with Sen. Mike Lee describing the meeting as "terribly frustrating."

President Donald Trump, GOP leaders and White House officials have been working furiously to try to win over dissatisfied lawmakers in recent days, and even made some last-minute legislative concessions to move the bill to the right. The effective conclusion of negotiations means that it is now time for House Republicans to get in line or vote against a bill that has the President's seal of approval.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows will be voting against the bill, his spokesman Ben Williamson told CNN.

"We've gotten the vibe that the negotiations have closed," Williamson said.

Meadows told reporters Monday that the caucus will not take "official positions" on the health care vote -- which could signal that leadership is picking off some votes from members of the conservative group.

But after a meeting with the group Monday night, Meadows insisted there were enough "no" votes to sink the bill.

"I'm confident that we have still enough concerns that a vote of 216 votes in the House would not happen today," Meadows said.

GOP Rep. Raul Labrador said that now that leaders and the White House are indicating that no major changes will be added to the bill, "it means the bill is going to fail." Asked if he was confident it couldn't pass on Thursday, he responded: "I'm confident."

"We don't believe that they have 216 votes in fact we know that they don't have 216 votes," Labrador said flatly.

Lee, a Utah Republican, and other conservatives were making a last-minute pitch to Trump officials and House leaders to revise the bill. But the White House made it clear the bill is closed, a Lee aide said.

Thursday's vote to repeal and replace Obamacare will be one of the most consequential moments for the GOP this year as well as for Trump's first months in the White House.

Trump will personally rally the troops Tuesday morning, attending a closed-door House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill to make a final pitch to his colleagues.

Final changes from House Republican leaders are expected to be unveiled Monday night.

The GOP leadership's most urgent priority: Make sure they have the votes, changing the bill if necessary.

The whip count operation is now in "full motion," a senior GOP aide told CNN Monday morning.

In the final days leading up to the vote, leaders are hashing out adjustments to the bill that they unveiled two weeks ago. These modifications are a crucial aspect of the whipping process -- possible concessions are being carefully considered to try to win over lawmakers who are still on the fence.

One change that a senior GOP source said is likely to be included: language that would immediately prevent states from expanding Medicaid.

Under the first version of the legislation, enhanced funding for Medicaid would be repealed as of January 1, 2020. But senior Republicans are now preparing to include language that would explicitly prevent states from expanding the program before that time -- a concession to conservative lawmakers.

Another change that's being worked on: Expanding tax credits to older Americans. The details are still unclear, but it is an effort to calm worried GOP lawmakers who fear that the GOP health care bill would result in a spike of premiums for their constituents in their 50s and early 60s.

Last week, the White House also announced after Trump's meeting with members of the conservative Republican Study Committee that they had agreed to include in the House legislation optional Medicaid work requirements as well as the choice for states to block grant the program.

These changes are expected to be included in a package of amendments to be considered before the House Rules Committee on Wednesday.

"It's a fine needle that needs to be thread. There's no doubt about it," he said.

CNN's Phil Mattingly and Sara Murray contributed to this report.

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Conservatives on health care bill: Negotiations are over - CNN

A classroom at Double Diamond Elementary School(Photo: provided to the RGJ)

Republicans on Monday rolled out their revamped school voucher plan after the Nevada Supreme Court found the 2015 version unconstitutional.

State Sen. Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas, is carrying the bill that would revive the education savings account or ESA program. ESAs passed the 2015 Legislature along party lines when Republicans controlled both chambers. The program would have given parents around $5,100 if they pulled their children from the public school system.

Education savings accounts - the school voucher program passed in 2015 - are shaping up to be the divisive issue during the Nevada Legislature. Seth A. Richardson/RGJ

However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 the program needed dedicated funding and ruled it unconstitutional.

The new bill addresses that matter, and would create a line item for $60 million toward the program, the number Gov. Brian Sandoval requested. Thats lower than the $80 million Treasurer Dan Schwartz said the program needed.

Control of the new program would be pulled from Schwartzs office and moved to the Office of Educational Choice, a newly formed entity within the Department of Education.

The bill would also limit vouchers to 5 percent of a districts enrollment in a given school year. The vouchers would also be awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Related::Washoe County School Districts $30 million deficit could mean larger class sizes

Related::WCSD out of options for $40M deficit

Homeschoolchildren would also not be included in the program. The voucher would automatically be terminated for any child who either moves or attends a school out of state.

Soon, Nevadans will have the most expansive school choice options of any state in the country and we must work to ensure the processes and opportunities are as streamlined as possible, Hammond said in a statement.

Schwartz said in a statement Hammond had his full backing.

We fully support his efforts to continue providing Nevada families with educational choice options that will set the stage for their childs success, Schwartz said. We hope the Nevada Legislature will pass funding for the program so that families can start receiving funding in August.

Related:13 reasons for WCSD $40 million deficit

All nine Republican senators are sponsors on the bill, as are all Assembly members save for Assemblyman Richard McArthur, R-Las Vegas.

However, the bill faces an uphill struggle in a Legislature where Democrats control both chambers. Many have already made public statements against the vouchers, including both Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, both Las Vegas Democrats.

Activists and organizations opposed to the plan held a rally outside the Legislature before the bill was introduced that included several lawmakers, including Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson, a Las Vegas Democrat and chair of the education committee, and state Sen. Julia Ratti, D-Sparks.

More:Partisan fight brews over Nevada Education Savings Accounts

Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz, D-Las Vegas, said the public education system still has critical funding problems that need to be addressed first.

We need more pre-K. I think you can put more money into that, said Diaz, who sits on the education committee. I was just lobbied this morning on the need for librarians to remain at the schools. How about that concept? We have many a need in our public education system that need more funding.

Democrats are also weary of giving money to private schools who dont have to adhere to state standards. Some are also concerned about discrimination based on religion, race or income.

Sandoval, a Republican, has said ESA funding is one of his top priorities for the session. Democrats do not have enough votes to override a veto of the budget without Republican votes, and several Republicans have said they are willing to go past the June deadline for the Legislature if ESAs are not included.

Republicans have also said they want to keep the program as-is without means testing based on income, race or other demographics.

Schwartzs office released numbers Monday showing there are currently around 6,700 pending applications, with 914 complete. More than 750 of the pending applications and around 100 completed applications are from the Reno-Sparks area.

Seth A. Richardson covers politics for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Like him onFacebook hereor follow him on Twitter at@SethARichardson.

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Republicans unveil new education savings account bill - Reno Gazette Journal

JEFFERSON CITY Before leaving town for a weeklong spring break, Missouri Republicans checked another box on their aggressive pro-business agenda last week when they sent a proposed law to Gov. Eric Greitens establishing new courtroom standards for expert witnesses.

The measure, one piece of a series of long-sought and controversial changes to the states legal system, attempts to make sure an expert witness meets certain criteria to provide testimony at jury trials.

For business groups such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the proposal now on the governors desk is designed to make the state more friendly to businesses looking to relocate to the Show-Me State.

For far too long, Missouris lax witness standards have allowed junk evidence into our courtrooms, a situation that has contributed to our states status as having one of the worst legal climates in the nation, said Chamber President Daniel Mehan.

The proposal, which was approved in the Senate on Wednesday by a 21-11 vote, would allow judges to weigh whether an experts testimony would be reliable and based on sufficient facts and reliable principles and methods, as well as being reliably applied to the facts of the case.

Thats a higher standard than is currently used, in which judges can admit expert testimony if it is based on facts reasonably relied upon by experts in the field.

Opponents argue the standards will make cases more expensive because of the added time needed by lawyers to find witnesses who will pass judicial muster.

Previous attempts to alter the standard were blocked by former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat who served as attorney general before his eight years as chief executive.

In vetoing the 2016 version, Nixon said the tightened criteria would clog the court system and put an unfair burden on trial judges who make the determinations, forcing them to conduct unnecessary hearings and become quasi-experts on complex subjects.

Supporters counter that its a standard used by 42 other states and in the federal court system.

But with Nixon now working in the private sector and Greitens serving his first months in office, Republicans who control the House and Senate have made a strong push to enact what they describe as business-friendly legislation.

They also have the backing of a political action committee that will be running advertisements on St. Louis television in support of the changes.

Missouri Rising, which is an offshoot of the America Rising super PAC, earlier announced an ad campaign seeking to draw attention to Missouris legal system.

In response, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, which opposes the changes, is backing an organization called Balance the Scales. In a recent email, the group mocked America Rising for using a picture in one of its ads of a Capitol building that is not Missouris.

For Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, the goal of changing the laws regarding lawsuits and courtrooms would allow businesses to expand and grow without worrying about legal costs.

In January, we pledged to make Missouri more competitive with our neighbors, said Richard, R-Joplin. Every piece of legislation the Senate has passed so far has been an effort to make the Show-Me State more attractive to investments. We are focused on legislation that will help facilitate economic growth and build stronger communities across the state.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said the states civil court system is outdated and is forcing businesses out of the state.

These reforms create a better business climate, so businesses can hire employees rather than waste money on frivolous lawsuits, Kehoe said.

Opponents say the measures will limit a citizens access to the court and potentially reduce damage amounts for people who are injured or defrauded.

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, said the first half of the Legislatures session has been dominated by special interest legislation favored by wealthy GOP supporters.

A few mega-donors spent millions of dollars to elect Republican lawmakers to do their bidding, and they are getting everything they paid for, McCann Beatty said. Unless you have a fat wallet and a willingness to open it, you have no say in the Missouri Capitol.

In addition to the expert witness proposal, lawmakers also are expected to head into the final months of the legislative session continuing to push for changes that would alter the states employment discrimination law and workers compensation statutes.

Excerpt from:
At midway point of session, Missouri Republicans on track with changes to legal system - STLtoday.com

A HOUSE Intelligence Committee hearing Monday produced the remarkable spectacle of FBI Director James B. Comey publicly testifying that there was no information that supports tweets by President Trump alleging wiretapping of his New York headquarters on the order of President Barack Obama. It saw National Security Agency Director Michael S. Rogers agree with the British government that it was utterly ridiculous for the White House to suggest that such surveillance had been undertaken by Britains signals agency. And it produced official confirmation by Mr. Comey that the agency is investigating Russias interference in the U.S. presidential election, including possible coordination with members of the Trump campaign.

Youd think that all of this would be of surpassing concern for Republican members of Congress. The president who leads their party has been officially reported to have made false statements alleging criminal activity by his predecessor. Whats more, his campaign is under scrutiny for possible cooperation with a dedicated and dangerous U.S. adversary in order to subvert American democracy.

Yet to listen to Republican members of the Intelligence Committee, the most pressing problem to arise from Russias intervention and the FBIs investigation of it is that reports of contacts between Russias ambassador and Mr. Trumps designated national security adviser were leaked to The Post. The priority of Chairman Devin Nunes (Calif.) and other Republican members, judging from their statements, is not fully uncovering Russias actions but finding and punishing those who allowed the public to learn about them.

Mr. Nunes and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) could not have been more zealous in their outrage over the exposure of Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign as national security adviser after reports in The Post exposed his lies about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Mr. Flynn accepted nearly $68,000 in payments from Russian companies, including the state propaganda outlet, before advocating greater cooperation with Moscow during his brief White House stint. Yet Mr.Nunes and Mr. Gowdy would have it that hunting down the sources for the disclosure that Mr. Flynn discussed the lifting of U.S. sanctions with Mr. Kislyak is more urgent than learning the full extent of the contacts he and other Trump aides had with Moscow.

The Republicans seem to be slavishly following the cues of the president, who, while failing to retract his accusation against Mr. Obama, is seeking to direct attention elsewhere. The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information, he tweeted Monday morning. Such a diversion, like anything else that distracts attention from Vladimir Putins support for his election, would be to Mr. Trumps advantage.

Congressional Republicans ought to consider larger national interests. Russias intervention in the election was not incidental and haphazard, but part of a concerted campaign to disrupt Western democracy. Mr. Putin is even now attempting to interfere in ongoing election campaigns in France and Germany. Given Mr. Trumps refusal to acknowledge the threat, it is essential that Congress discover the truth about Russias activities, take steps to defend against similar intrusions in the future and help allies protect themselves.

The first useful step would be to fully inform the public. Instead, Mr. Nunes and his followers appear bent on silencing anyone who would do so.

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No, Republicans, the 'real story' is not the leaks - Washington Post

State Sen.Larry Crowder on the first day of the Colorado state legislative session. Jan 11, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

By James Anderson, Associated Press

A Senate committee led by Republicans who oppose tampering with the Taxpayers Bill of Rights on Monday defeated a measure to ask Colorado voters if they want to keep more tax revenue for roads, education and health care.

GOP Rep. Dan Thurlow of Grand Junction and Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa wanted to ask voters to change the way limits on state revenue are calculated under TABOR, the constitutional amendment adopted in 1992.

But the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee voted 3-2 along party lines to reject the bill.

Thurlow says the states spending blueprint needs fixing because circumstances have changed substantially and everything from K-12 education to roads are chronically underfunded. Each year, lawmakers struggle to balance the budget and meet the needs of rapidly growing Colorado because of the revenue cap.

TABOR requires any revenue above the cap to be refunded to taxpayers, unless voters say otherwise. The cap is calculated using population growth and inflation, while thebillwould have used a higher rate of personal income growth instead.

Budget forecasts say refunds could total $158 million or upward for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Thurlow had testified that his bill would drastically cut anticipated refunds.

The two Republican sponsors said they were trying to untangle conflicting legal mandates that dictate what lawmakers can and cannot do. TABOR restricts spending; another mandate requires increased K-12 spending each year; and yet another will soon reduce property tax collections, which are tied to how much commercial property taxes are rising.

We have to fix the process in order to make logical decisions on the budget, Thurlow said recently. If they want us to prioritize, they have to take away the restrictions.

Crowders rural southern Colorado district has suffered because of budget-balancing tactics that include reducing fees paid by hospitals to secure matching federal funds. Those fees are counted as state revenue under TABOR, and when they are cut to balance the budget, rural hospitals get less.

If you look at it realistically, what are we doing here if we cant govern? Crowder said. There is no holy grail in government. Period. Including TABOR.

The sponsors argument ran counter to long-held orthodoxy among Colorado Republicans who insist that the state can make do with what it has.

Senate President Kevin Grantham triggered a near-rebellion this session among fellow Republicans when he and Democratic House Speaker Crisanta Duran unveiled a bill that would ask voters for a sales tax hike and a bond issue to fund billions of dollars in transportation needs.

Several Republicans, including Granthams No. 2, Sen. Chris Holbert, denounced any tax hike. Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, vice chairman of the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, said he would introduce a transportation bill with no tax hike.

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Senate Republicans killed a Republican-sponsored bill to let Colorado keep more tax revenue - Denverite (blog)