Its about discrimination and its about we mexicans being a target for so many years. Woodruff all that and more on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by i want the feel pride as a citizen of this country when were in a place like this. And with the ongoing support of these institutions this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff its less than a week to go before the official start of spring, but you wouldnt have known it today in the northeast. A blizzard grounded more than 6,000 flights, shuttered schools and claimed at least one life. John yang has our report. Yang from western pennsylvania to new england, snow fell at a furious pace. This timelapse video shows it piling up in new york state. After daylight savings time, i wouldnt have expected a storm like this. It kind of feels more like january than it does march. Yang wind gusts of more than 70 up to 50 miles an hour sent waves pounding into the shore from delaware to massachusetts. Good day to make brownies is my point, and or read a book. Yang Connecticut GovernorDannel Malloy banned all but emergency travel so plows could do their work in near whiteout conditions. This is new england, were used to handling snow. But when you get predictions of 18 to 30 inches with potentially 4, 5 or 6inch snowfalls in an hour, thats when you have to act. Yang boston was on track for up to 18 inches. Schools there were closed, as they were in cities like philadelphia and new york. That left thousands of kids with a day to play. Even fourlegged frolickers got in the act. For air travellers, it was anything but a holiday. Southwest airlines, which flies more domestic passengers than any other carrier, cancelled all flights at 14 airports from portland, maine to washington, d. C. Thousands of people were stranded, like this new bride from britain. Were here on honeymoon and we flew to new york and we got here fine but now were stuck here on our way to orlando. We cant get a flight out until tomorrow, now. Were hoping to get a hotel room but at the moment there arent any. Yang n. C. A. A. Tournament bound basketball teams and fans had to change plans to get to march madness games later this week. Amtrak suspended or modified rail service along the busy northeast corridor. Nearly a quartermillion customers lost power. New york city was spared the worst as the arctic blast shifted north and west, bringing less snow and more pelting sleet. Mother nature is an unpredictable lady sometimes. She was unpredictable once again today. Yang the Nations Capital also got less than expected, allowing federal agencies to open on a three hour delay. For the pbs newshour, im john yang. Woodruff in the days other news, the commandant of the u. S. Marine corps faced a grilling today, over a scandal involving nude photos of female members being shared online. General Robert Neller pledged to fix the problem and culture that led to the scandal. But female senators, in particular, said theyd heard it all before, including new york democrat kirsten gillibrand. When you say to us its got to be different. That rings hollow. I dont know what you mean when you say that. Why does it have to be different. Because you all of a sudden feel that it has to be different . Who has been held accountable . I dont have a good answer for you. Im not going to sit here and duck around this thing. Im not. Im responsible. Im the commandant. I own this. Thats a lame answer but maam thats the best i can tell you right now. Woodruff the general acknowledged the scandal may hurt the marine Corps Efforts to recruit women. The European Unions highest court ruled today that employers may bar muslim women from wearing headscarves on the job. The ruling says thats allowed, so long as the ban is part of a company policy, and not a sign of prejudice. Its a response to cases brought by two women, one belgian, one french. Both were fired for refusing to remove their headscarves at work. The u. N. Human Rights Office is demanding that the Syrian Government release tens of thousands of prisoners. In a statement today, the agencys head said . The entire country has become a torturechamber; a place of savage horror and absolute injustice. In the past, syria has denied allegations of systematic torture in its prisons. It had no direct response today. In iraq, Government Troops pushed deeper into western mosul, and killed a key Islamic State commander. Military leaders now say its only a matter of time before they crush the remaining isis fighters in iraqs second largest city. John irvine of independent Television News reports from the front lines. Reporter rolling back the Islamic State has been tortuous. The fighting here is intense and brutal. Advances made by the iraqi army have been slow and the extent of the damage being wrought by this inch by inch battle for a city is simply appalling. In 2014, the iraqi army lost mosul in six hours. Getting it all back is going to take them at least six months. The battle for eastern mosul lasted 100 days and it cost the iraqi army at least 500 dead. They want to limit the casualties this side of the river in western mosul and to that end, theyre using far more ordnance, artillery, and air strikes like the one youve just heard. I. S. Can also strike from the air. That was a grenade dropped close to us by one of their drones. This cropaganda video appears to confirm the commitment of their fighters here in mosul. It also shows they are far from running short on ammunition. No quarter is being given or asked for. Are they good fighters . Actually they fight, they fight, they fight, they fight. But we have also good fighters reporter mosul museum today was rubble. This where i. S. Sledgehammered history. And while much of what they bludgeoned was replica stuff, some priceless artifacts were destroyed here. Now the museum is on the frontline of more history being made. And the records will show that the battle of mosul was one of the most brutal urban fights the world has ever seen. Much of the place is uninhabitable and as the advance continues, more districts are being abandoned. As they fled today, they can only have been wondering what will be left of mosul to return to. Woodruff more than 200,000 mosul residents have been displaced since the start of the Iraqi Government offensive, in october. Pirates today seized an oil tanker off the coast of somalia, the first such hijacking since 2012. The aris 13, manned by sri lankan sailors, was carrying fuel from djibouti to the somalian capital of mogadishu. The pirates forced it to sail to a port town near the countrys tip. A ransom demand is expected. Authorities in mexico say theyve found more than 250 skulls in what appears to be a drug cartel burial ground. A prosecutor confirms the hidden site was discovered on the outskirts of veracruz. Only onethird of the site has been excavated, opening the possibility of more victims to be found. Back in this country, the new head of medicaid and medicare was sworn in today, as lawmakers grapple with the governments role in health care. Vice president pence administered the oath of office to seema verma. Shed been working as a Health Care Consultant in indiana. Meanwhile, the nominee to be u. S. Trade representative, robert lighthizer, had his Senate Confirmation hearing. He argued for an America First trade policy. On wall street today, another slide in oil prices pulled stocks lower again. The Dow Jones Industrial average lost 44 points to close at 20,837. The nasdaq fell almost 19 points, and the s p 500 slipped eight. And, goodyear said goodbye to an icon today. In predawn darkness, the last of the companys blimps was decommissioned and deflated in carson, california. Goodyear began flying blimps more than 90 years ago. The tire company is shifting to semirigid dirigibles that are larger and faster in providing aerial Television Coverage at major sports and entertainment events. Still to come on the newshour the political battle to repeal and replace obamacare. The first major test for europes far right as the dutch head to the polls. What School Choice looks like in the Vice President s home state of indiana, and much more. Woodruff leading republicans in the house are hoping to pass their obamcare replacement bill by the end of the month. But the new estimates from the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office yesterday may have complicated that timeline. For some of the partys conservatives, the bill still has too much of the Affordable Care act left in it. For some of its moderates, the number of people the bill would not provide coverage for is cause for alarm. Today, the white house and some leading republicans left the door open to change. From both ends of pennsylvania avenue today, talk of amending the House Republican health care bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell spoke at the capitol. Itll be open to amendment in senate, like all reconciliation bills are, were anxious to get past the status quo. Woodruff at almost the same time, white house Spokesman Sean Spicer also sounded a note of compromise. If you can come with a good idea that will strengthen this bill that will benefit american patients we will do it. Woodruff all of this, after mondays report from the Congressional Budget Office. The c. B. O. Says the g. O. P. Plan would leave 14 million fewer people insured by next year, and a total of 24 million fewer by 2026. It would also bring savings that would cut federal deficits by 337 billion over that time frame. The white house sent out budget director Mick Mulvaney this morning to challenge the c. B. O. s estimates of the uninsured. I dont believe the facts are correct. Im saying that because of a track record of c. B. O. Being wrong before, and we believe theyre wrong now. Woodruff on the other hand, House Speaker paul ryan embraced the analysis, saying it exceeded his expectations. But hardline conservatives in ryans caucus, including Ohio Republican jim jordan, blamed him for rushing the bill through the house. This bill doesnt unite republicans, this bill doesnt bring down the cost of premiums. Woodruff several Senate Republicans also warned the bill needs reworking. Among them, north carolinas thom tillis the bill right now, we have questions that we have to have answered. Again, its not just about his house bill but series of things that we have to accomplish in the coming months to solve the problem of the failure of obamacare. Woodruff meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office figures bolstered democrats opposition to the bill. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer its vintage donald trump. He talks like a populist but when he acts its hard right favoring the special interests, and hurting the middle class and those trying to get there. Woodruff Democratic Leaders brought out people who said theyve benefited from obamacare. The solution is not to take away care, the solution is to find a better way of providing that care. Im not asking for something for free, im just trying to stay alive. Woodruff the g. O. P. Bill will next head to the house budget and rules committees. Joining me now, a conservative in the house and member of the freedom caucus, who has expressed reservations about the bill. Republican congressman ted yoho of florida. Representative yoho, welcome to the program. What are your reservations, and could you support the bill as it is right now . Thanks, judy, for having me. My reservations are many. I like the direction were moving in, but i could not support the bill as it is right now. Woodruff why not . There are several things. One is the refundable tax credits. What that means is the government has to take money from us, the taxpayers, its a government program. And what ive seen in the Government Programs in my short time up here but being a citizen for almost 62 years come april is a government program, they tend to get bigger and bigger and theyre less efficient. And any time you give control to the government, it costs more money and theyre less efficient. I think weve seen this over and over again. Woodruff let me ask you about that. One of the other things is a work requirement for able bodied citizens without dependents, that theyre either looking for work or theyre getting work or theyre getting reeducated or doing community service. I think this is a must. If not youre going to have growth of people on the medicaid system. Woodruff well, i want to ask you about what you mentioned first, the refundable tax creditor because speaker ryan, as you may know, is arguing that thats not an entitlement. He says letting people keep more of their own money and doing what they want with it is not an entitlement. He said its simply letting them have the freedom to purchase a plan that they feel is best without the government forcing them to buy insurance. Well, i agree with getting rid of the mandates because, again, it goes back to if government can mandate what you have to do, and then they fine you with a fee for not doing it, what else can they do in the future . You know, if the government says you should do this or that . Im all in favor of having people keep more of their money. Im in favor of the tax credit, not the refundable ones that go back the buying insurance or going into Peoples Health savings account. Again, im okay with the tax credits where you can write off the cost of your Health Insurance if youre an individual, because thats insent sliding people to do that which we want them to be, and thats to be responsible for their health care. Woodruff do you think this bill could be changed, amended, in the direction that youre concerns are . Im asking because in the senate the concerns seem to be in the other direction, senator tom cotton, a republican from arkansas, is saying he is worried that the bill doesnt cover enough people who need care. In other words, the pushes and pull seem to be in the other direction. No, i think this bill will get amended. I think youll have a product that comes out of the house and the senate thats going to fulfill the needs that were trying to accomplish. I think we need to all step back for a molt. The Affordable Care act was full of good intentions but its collapsing on its own. If we did nothing, which the democrats dont want us to interfere, if we do nothing its going to collapse. And all these people that are on it are going to lose insurance. Our goal is to make sure everybody has access to health care, that its an Affordable Health care, but more importantly its Quality Health care. With the Affordable Care act, whats happened is all these people have been running to medicaid, and its been proven over and over, medicaid has the worst outcomes in the industrialized world as far as the quality of health care. This is not a way to go just the say we have Health Insurance, but its not good Health Insurance. We want quality Health Insurance that the american industries, the American Health care providers can provide. I feel better than anywhere else in the world. Woodruff congressman, there are a number of republican senators who are concerned about the loss of medicaid coverage. Well, again, i look five to ten years down the road. If we dont fix the underlying problems now, theres going to be a lot of people without basic coverage and needs. I mean, theyre talking about cutting Social Security 25 across the board within 12 years. Nobody wants that. And so if we dont get these things right and make the proper reforms now in the mandatory spending, this is going to be a disaster five to ten years down the road for all americans. So lets get this rite. Woodruff are you clear on where President Trump comes down on this . Has he reached out to you to ask for your support in. Hes not asked me personally, but being a member of the freedom caucus, were going to meet with him this week, and well meet with him in the future. These are things that. These are not Republican Issues or democratic issues that one side is trying to show which one can come up with the better plan. This is something thats going to affect all americans. We need to put whats best for america right now. Lets get that together. We invite buyins from the democrats to come on our side. We want the hear your issues instead of having a political debate and have everybody divided over this. Woodruff would the president be able to change your mind on this do you think . Im opening to listening to anybody. I look forward to that debate. Ill stand where i stand on my issues, and if somebody can convince me different, yeah, you know, im agreeable, im willing to compromise, but it has to be in the right direction. Woodruff im asking because at this point the president has signed off on the thing that you dont like, and this is those refundable tax credits. And this is the fact that there is no work reform in here. Well, ive also heard him say that hes open to a lot of suggestions, and that w