Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
House panel approves N. American trade deal
The House tax-writing committee advanced a rewrite of the North American trade deal Tuesday, blessing a campaign trophy for President Trump even as majority Democrats move to impeach him as an abuser of his office. Published December 17, 2019
Spending deal kills Obamacare taxes, forbids Trump ‘sabotage’
Congress is poised to approve a spending deal that would raise the purchasing age for tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21, repeal major Obamacare taxes and forbid President Trump from deploying "nuclear options" that would kneecap the Democrats' prized health law. Published December 16, 2019
Trump administration gives Obamacare users a 36-hour extension
The Trump administration said Monday it will give Obamacare customers until midweek to sign up for 2020 health coverage after a series of weekend computer glitches made it hard for shoppers to beat the deadline. Published December 16, 2019
U.S., China trade talks move to another round
U.S. and Chinese negotiators are staring at another round of thorny trade talks after toasting a "phase one" deal that scraps fresh tariffs and compels Beijing to buy more U.S. pork, soybeans and other farm products. Published December 15, 2019
At Army-Navy game, Donald Trump touts waiver that lets military athletes go pro, then serve
President Trump escaped the impeachment hubbub in Washington on Saturday to watch Navy defeat Army in Philadelphia, rubbing elbows with new recruits and touting his waiver for military athletes who want to play professionally before serving their country. Published December 14, 2019
Trump sums it up: ‘A wild week’
Buoyed by trade deals and buffeted by an impeachment inquiry, President Trump stated the obvious Friday during a White House sit-down with a foreign leader. Published December 13, 2019
Trump, Chinese leaders announce initial trade deal with U.S. to avoid new tariffs
U.S. and Chinese negotiators are staring at another round of thorny trade talks after toasting a "phase one" deal that scraps fresh tariffs and compels Beijing to buy more U.S. pork, soybeans and other farm products. Published December 13, 2019
Chinese leaders announce initial trade deal with U.S.
Chinese officials said Friday they've agreed to an initial trade with the U.S. that will remove tariffs "phase by phase." Published December 13, 2019
U.S., China reach trade deal: Report
President Trump has agreed to an initial trade deal that requires China to purchase a large amount of U.S. farm products in exchange for tariff relief, placing him close to a second significant trade win amid the furor over his pending impeachment. Published December 12, 2019
Trump takes victory lap on federal parental leave
President Trump spotlighted a "historic" deal Thursday that offers paid family leave to federal workers, seizing credit for another item that was on Democrats' wish list for years. Published December 12, 2019
House Democrats tee up vote on partisan drug-price bill
House Democrats teed up a Thursday vote on their contentious drug-pricing bill by appealing to Republicans' loyalty to President Trump, saying the effort echoes his 2016 rhetoric on government negotiation and his push to align prices with other countries'. Published December 11, 2019
Trump, aides say impeachment hurts Americans, embarrasses Democrats
President Trump denounced Democrats' introduction of articles of impeachment Tuesday, saying his opponents have officially gone too far with their bogus claim that he cheated in the 2016 election and have turned it into a destructive, partisan article of faith. Published December 10, 2019
Trump says impeachment articles ‘very weak’
President Trump on Tuesday said bipartisan approval of his North American trade deal is the "silver lining" to a morning that began with Democrats unveiling articles of impeachment against him. Published December 10, 2019
Pelosi, Trump administration reach deal on USMCA
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Trump administration agreed Tuesday to a rewrite of the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, with Democrats announcing the breakthrough minutes after they called President Trump a threat to democracy who must be impeached. Published December 10, 2019
Donald Trump endorses ‘surprise billing’ compromise, wants to secure health care win by end of year
President Trump on Monday endorsed a bipartisan compromise to tackle "surprise" medical bills that stun patients who are treated by doctors who happen to be out of their insurance networks. Published December 9, 2019
Lawmakers find common ground on legislation for surprise medical bills, prescription drug prices
Whether because impeachment or in spite of it, Congress is teed up for a series of bipartisan wins this month, proving that even the acrimony of trying to remove President Trump from office does not mean he can't work with them. Published December 8, 2019
Deadlines loom for Trump administration for World Trade Organization panel, tariffs on Chinese goods
The Trump administration is facing two major trade-related deadlines in the coming week, with decisions looming on imposing new tariffs for $156 billion in Chinese consumer goods, and allowing a key World Trade Organization appeals panel to expire. Published December 8, 2019
Trump doesn’t think Kim Jong Un will rain on his 2020 parade
President Trump on Saturday said he doesn't think North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will lash out in a way that disrupts the U.S. campaign season, despite Pyongyang's short-range missile launches and bellicose language. Published December 7, 2019
Trump backs Senate drug-pricing bill, pressuring wary Republicans
President Trump late Friday endorsed a Senate drug-pricing bill that would cap what seniors pay at the pharmacy counter and require drug makers to rebate Medicare if prices rise faster than inflation. Published December 7, 2019
Election, impeachment won’t affect China talks: Kudlow
The U.S. and China are negotiating "around the clock" but it is unclear if they will reach a phase-one trade deal this month or if talks will slip into the campaign year, President Trump's top economic adviser said Friday. Published December 6, 2019
