Trump met at the White House with the most conservative House Republicans, hoping to close a deal that would help ensure passage of the party’s health-care plan by shifting it even further to the right. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), asked whether the White House had made its final negotiating offer, said that if that’s the case, “They’re not going to pass the bill.”Talks continued, however, and White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he still anticipated a vote on the measure by day’s end. Passage of the bill would represent a major political victory for both the White House and House leaders, although the ultimate fate of the legislation hinges on the Senate. “That’s utopia, right?”Still, White House officials expressed optimism Thursday that a deal remained within reach. “But we should start from the baseline that any changes will make our health care system better, not worse for hard-working Americans.

Source: Washington Post March 23, 2017 12:02 UTC