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CARSON CITY Democrats could put Uber out of business in Nevada without recording a vote on the final legislation.

Welcome to the last 128 hours of the 2017 Nevada Legislature.

The Review-Journal this week reported that regulations taxi companies want imposed on transportation network companies could drive Uber and Lyft from Nevada. Democratic leaders in the Assembly, who received hefty campaign contributions from taxi companies in 2016, kept the proposal alive late last week after it appeared to have died.

Senate Bill 226 is in the Assembly Ways and Means committee. On Monday, chair Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, held a hearing on the fiscal impact of an Assembly floor amendment. This late in the session, if a bill gets a hearing, its a worrisome sign for its opponents.

I wanted to find out from Carlton whether she plans to move SB226, but when I asked for a comment, she said, Nope.

Its unlikely that the amended version of SB226 has enough support among Democrats to pass either house, which is why trickery fueled by taxi-industry influence might be its only path to passage. In April, SB226 passed the Senate 17-4 as a compromise aimed at ensuring that transportation network company drivers have business licenses.

Heres how the shenanigans could work:

Democrats adopt an amendment in Ways and Means thats acceptable to Uber and Lyft, but different from the Senates bill. The now-uncontroversial bill passes committee and the Assembly, possibly by a margin as wide as the Senates.

The amended version goes to the Senate for a concurrence, but the Senate doesnt concur with the amendment, and the Assembly doesnt recede it. Then the Senate and Assembly appoint a conference committee to meet and come up with language thats acceptable to both sides.

This is where the games begin. The members of the conference committee would have a little-noticed meeting where, as one insider put it, They can do anything they want.

Anything includes putting regulations back into the bill even outlawing transportation network companies entirely. If the amendment goes back to the Senate and Assembly floors late Monday evening, lawmakers will be swamped by an avalanche of amendments and rushed by a ticking clock remember, the Nevada Constitution requires lawmakers to adjourn after 120 days. Its impossible to keep up with everything near adjournment. Lawmakers have to trust their leadership.

Because SB226 had passed both houses, the Senate and Assembly would only need to concur with the SB226 amendment via voice vote. This means the Legislature could outlaw Uber and Lyft without one lawmaker having to put their name on the record as voting for it.

Its not likely because alert Republicans could force a roll call vote. Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, has expressed opposition to the regulations, but resurrecting SB226 from the dead early Saturday morning didnt seem likely either.

This threat to Uber and Lyft isnt dead until sine die.

Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow @victorjoecks on Twitter.

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How Democrats could force Uber out of Nevada without a recorded vote - Las Vegas Review-Journal

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.(Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN, AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON Democrats want to preempt President Trump on a major unfulfilled campaign promise: a plan to create jobs and rebuild the nations infrastructure.

A coalition of progressives is holding events in 20 cities this week to highlight a plan they say would create millions of jobs by taxing Wall Street. It stands in contrast to what Trump is likely to do: proposing public-private partnerships they say will enrich banks and foreign corporations while potentially neglectingsome of the neediest urban and rural communities and projects.

Their ideas stand no chance of becoming law given Republican control of the House and Senate.

Yet its an opportunity for Democrats to outline to the American public their contrasting vision for creating jobs through major public investments with a Republican approach that would likely be heavy on tax incentives for big corporations and Wall Street.

The White House is gearing up to push for its own infrastructure plan in addition to Obamacare replacement and tax reform before the summer congressional recess. In his budget proposal, Trump included $200 billion over 10years including incentives for states, cities and private investors, as well as efforts to reduce federal regulations.

Progressives are fighting to create millions of jobs, build a 21st century economy, and pay for it by taxing the big banks that still never paid the bill for crashing the economy almost a decade ago, said Dan Cantor, national director for the Working Families Party.

Trumps so-called infrastructure plan will be nothing more than a massive giveaway to Wall Street, and he'll stick our children with the bill for generations to come, he said.

Read more:

Mick Mulvaney defends Trump budget against Dems calling it 'immoral'

Trump returns to political challenges, from Russia inquiry to health care

Putting Americans back to work through a massive infrastructure bill was a central issue in Trumps outsider, populist-themed campaign that was waged against a backdrop of collapsing bridges in Minnesota, lead-laced drinking water in Michigan and flooded cities across the south. He also made infrastructure a centerpiece both during his election-night speech and a Feb. 28 address to Congress, vowing to create millions of lobs.

According to a fact sheet included in Trumps proposed 2018 budget, his plan would leverage private-sector spending to focus federal dollars on transformative projects that are priorities at both the federal and regional level. It is also likely to include a controversial provision for adding tolls to existing interstate roads.

Last week the Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced a resolution outlining the progressive alternative. Our plan offers a path toward a fairer economy in which we can all thrive, the coalition said in a statement. It is proof that our countrys complex infrastructure challenges can be guided by a simple principle: public money should go toward the public good, it said.

The plan calls for investing $2 trillion over ten years, which it estimates would employ 2.5 million Americans in the first year to rebuild transportation, water and energy systems while also focusing on unsafe schools, homes and public buildings. With minimal potential for big investor profits, these are areas big companies may shun.

On Wednesday and Thursday members of the "Millions of Jobs" coalition are holding events highlighting some of the most critical projects their plan would address, including a water tower in Flint, Mich.; New York Citys Penn Station, which has seen massive delays due to aging systems; and a power plant in Lakeland, Fla.,where an explosion recently knocked out a large, 40-year-old power unit.

The plan is the product of a partnership with outside progressive groups including the Working Families Party.

Trumps Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, has said Trumps plan will include some kind of public-private partnerships and perhaps the sale of some government assets. Hes also rolling back environmental regulations and supports tax reform funded in part by repealing the Affordable Care Act.

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the need for $4.6 trillion in infrastructure investments over 10years, with more than half of that sum currently unfunded. As progressives frame their approach to the economy, a common thread is the comparison to Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the coalition calling the plan a New Deal for Jobs.

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Democrats' infrastructure proposal contrasts with Trump's plan, budget - USA TODAY

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who spearheaded the letter, raised similar concerns in April. | AP Photo

More than 40 House Democrats are urging the White House to revoke Jared Kushner's security clearance "to protect national security" until the FBI resolves its investigation of potential collusion between associates of President Donald Trump and agents of the Russian government.

The lawmakers expressed concern over recent reports about Kushner's secretive meeting with Russia's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, including that Kushner, President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, sought a back channel to the Kremlin that would rely on Russian facilities to avoid detection by U.S. officials.

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"While the various congressional and law enforcement investigations continue, the White House should take all possible steps to protect national security including immediately revoking Mr. Kushner's security clearance," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to White House Counsel Don McGahn.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who spearheaded the letter, raised similar concerns in April, when reports indicated Kushner had omitted the Kislyak meeting from his application for a security clearance.

"Multiple reports now say that he discussed opening a secret line of communications that could be monitored by Russian intelligence but not American intelligence, which would be disqualifying," Beyer said in a statement to POLITICO. "Jared Kushner cannot be trusted.

It's a sharp escalation from Democrats aimed at Kushner. When Beyer initially raised his concerns in April, just four Democrats joined his call, and they noted that Kushner's failure to detail his meetings with foreign officials could amount to a felony. This time, at least 41 had signed on by Wednesday evening, and more were expected to add their names by Thursday.

The signers include House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith of Washington and Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, as well as the five signatories on the April letter: Beyer, Ted Lieu of California, Jerry Nadler of New York, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Peter Welch of Vermont.

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The Trump administration has largely defended Kushner, with top officials emphasizing that back channels are a routine part of diplomacy. But Democrats note the meetings came after intelligence agencies issued an assessment that Russia had actively interfered in the 2016 presidential election and after the Obama administration had levied sanctions in retaliation.

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House Democrats: Revoke Kushner's security clearance - Politico

Mental health affects all, regardless of gender, culture, and socio-economic status. Despite the universal nature, many are unable to get the care they need because of a shortage of providers and the stigma surrounding the diagnoses. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to erase this stigma and educate the public of all ages on the warning signs of mental illness. This month is even more meaningful for immigrants from around the world as our nations increasingly harsh immigration policies have harmed the mental and social well-being of millions of American children.

Roughly one in four American children younger than 18 live in immigrant families, and over four million U.S.-citizen children have at least one undocumented parent. A sense of safety and belonging is key to their psychological development. Feeling secure is critical to them thriving emotionally, academically and socially. Conversely, evidence has shown that adverse childhood experiences, like intense uncertainty and fear, are detrimental to their health.

Children of immigrantsthe large majority of whom are U.S. citizensare confronted daily with the effects of anti-immigrant policies, such as xenophobic comments shouted in public, bullying on the playground, and having a general feeling that they dont belong here. All of these lead to chronic, sometimes traumatizing, stress.

Researchers and clinicians have found that stress related to immigration can cause serious physical effects on smaller kids, including tantrums and bedwetting. Older children can become withdrawn, distracted, and even have stomachaches or insomnia. They may start performing poorly in school, avoiding school altogether, or acting out in rage.

As more children of immigrants become targets of bullying, such mistreatment may lead to children withdrawing socially, which prevents them from building healthy social relationships, a crucial element of their development. As one parent from the Los Angeles area recounted, My daughter is having nightmares. Kids are afraid to go to school. I do my best to keep the TV off. We are not criminals. We are just trying to create a better life for our children.

The harm is not restricted to children. Undocumented parents must plan for the devastating possibility of being detained or deported, including arranging for child custody and selling property. Studies also show that punitive immigration policies create a chilling environment where parents avoid public programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and steer clear of medical attention for fear of having their status reported. The absence of medical and nutritional support only worsens a familys well-being.

Harsh immigration enforcement can have long-lasting effects on children that arent immediately clear. When parents are gone, children are likely to fall into poverty, have unstable access to food and housing, and be funneled into the child welfare system, all of which predict poor educational and economic outcomes. Childhood trauma can also have a biological effect on youth that can lead to adult depression and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).

There is hope. A recent NCLR study has shown that Latino children of immigrants are often remarkably resilient when the right environments and support systems are in place to help them cultivate self-esteem, perseverance and a positive outlook.

Nelson Mandela famously said, There can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children. Today, the administration and some lawmakers are choosing through inhumane immigration laws to separate children from their parents and instill deep anxiety and distress within immigrant communities, affecting the well-being of millions of American children for generations to come. Rather than rip apart hardworking parents from their children, our society should provide meaningful immigration reforms, and invest in these children. As one concerned eighth grade student recently wrote to his representative about his friends who live in fear:

What should I tell my fellow classmates? I hope that you can help lead us to a fair solution so that families are not separated.

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) represents Californias 40th Congressional District, and is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.) represents Californias 32nd Congressional District, and is the founder and chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), an immigrant and the first Indian American woman in the House of Representatives, represents Washingtons 7th District. Congresswomen Roybal-Allard and Jayapal are the co-chairs of the Womens Working Group on Immigration Reform.

The views expressed by this author are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

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Harsh U.S. immigration policies are causing mental, social harm to American children - The Hill (blog)

Jon Feere appears on a segment of C-Span on February 19, 2015. C-Span

"It should come as no surprise to anyone that he would then staff key positions with people who also fit outside the mainstream or who advocate for views that are more consistent with his campaign rhetoric than some moderate version," said John Hudak, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. "I think every president that has issue areas that are dear to them look for some of the most aggressive advocates to work on behalf of those issues."

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When asked about the hires, a White House official told NBC News, "The President campaigned on increased border security and enforcement of our nation's immigration laws and that's exactly what the administration has been focused on."

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, did not respond to NBC News' requests for comment.

Political appointments that reflect an administration's policy bent are not unusual and immigration hardliners defend the Trump administration's hires.

"If anything, it's more of a surprise that Trump hasn't hired more people from organizations like (Center for Immigration Studies) and FAIR," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

However, immigration supporters worry that those hired wielded influence in the Washington immigration debate and helped scuttle comprehensive immigration reform efforts pushed by previous administrations.

"The courts are going to be very busy with immigration challenges over the next four years," said Steve Yale-Loehr, an immigration law professor at Cornell University.

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Hispanic Caucus Calls on DHS to Remove Immigration Hardliner as Ombudsman - NBCNews.com