Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
More than half of Americans support government-run health care: poll
More than half of the public supports a Bernie Sanders-style plan that replaces private coverage with a sweeping, "Medicare for all" style program that imposes a nationwide plan, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Published January 23, 2019
Democrats work to show federal workers’ pain during government shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is in Washington overseeing the drama on the partial government shutdown, but his constituents back home are about to get a taste as billboards pop up this week imploring him to bring the episode to a conclusion. Published January 22, 2019
Mark Warner to Trump agencies: Explain piecemeal recall of workers
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia asked the Trump administration Tuesday to justify its piecemeal recall of federal workers amid the partial government shutdown, saying he fears the White House is picking "winners and losers" for political expediency. Published January 22, 2019
Congo struggles to contain Ebola outbreak
Ebola infections have slowed inside the initial center of the Democratic Republic of Congo's outbreak, but the disease is marching south toward major cites, opening a critical new stage in the epidemic that's already the second worst on record. Published January 21, 2019
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants unemployment pay for federal workers
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging the Trump administration to reconsider its refusal to make unemployment insurance available to federal workers who are still on the job amid the shutdown, yet missed their last paycheck and could miss another. Published January 20, 2019
Trump admin. approves Arizona’s request to condition Medicaid on work
The Trump administration approved Arizona's request to attach work requirements to Medicaid coverage, making it the eighth state to condition benefits on seeking a job, going to school or otherwise engaging in the community. Published January 18, 2019
DC mayor, California governor blast Labor Department’s shutdown guidance
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging the Trump administration to reconsider its refusal to make unemployment insurance available to federal workers who are still on the job amid the shutdown, yet missed their last paycheck and could miss another. Published January 18, 2019
More government employees being put back to work during shutdown
The State Department said Thursday it has found enough cash to recall most of its employees and to pay them at least one check during the partial government shutdown, adding a new dimension to President Trump's piecemeal plan to blunt the pain. Published January 17, 2019
Court postpones lawsuit over shutdown — because of the shutdown
A federal judge froze proceedings Wednesday in a lawsuit that seeks back pay and damages for essential employees forced to work without paychecks during the government shutdown. Published January 16, 2019
Treasury union blasts IRS labor recall amid shutdown
A Treasury employee union says the "mass call back" of tens of thousands of workers for the tax-filing season is exactly why it's suing to prevent the administration from forcing members to work "in exchange for only an IOU." Published January 16, 2019
IRS recalls major swath of workforce for filing season
Facing tax-filing season, the IRS will recall tens of thousands of employees to work without pay amid the government shutdown, according to a contingency plan released Tuesday. Published January 15, 2019
Judge declines to grant immediate pay, other relief to workers in throes of gov’t shutdown
A judge on Tuesday refused to order the Trump administration to pay federal employees kept on the job during the partial shutdown, as the IRS said it was bringing back tens of thousands of employees to process tax returns. Published January 15, 2019
Federal judge blocks Trump’s birth control rules nationwide
A federal judge Monday temporarily blocked President Trump's push to exempt a range of companies and religious nonprofits from an Obama-era mandate to insure birth control or submit their objections in writing. Published January 14, 2019
House investigators launch probe of soaring drug prices
House Democrats launched a broad probe Monday into high prescription drug costs, saying the rapid rise in prices is "unsustainable" and soaking taxpayers and patients alike. Published January 14, 2019
Seven in 10 say health care system is in ‘crisis’ or has ‘major problems’: Poll
Seven in 10 Americans say the U.S. health care system is "in a state of crisis" or has "major problems," according to a Gallup poll that also finds partisanship has colored people's views of the system over the past decade. Published January 14, 2019
Trump rules letting employers opt out of birth control coverage blocked
Judge blocks Trump administration rules letting more employers opt out of birth control coverage. Published January 13, 2019
Air traffic controllers add to pile of shutdown lawsuits
Air traffic controllers Friday joined the ranks of federal employees suing over the government shutdown, after workers keeping vigil over their bank accounts didn't receive a cent on payday. Published January 11, 2019
Judge: Federal employees suing over government shutdown cannot remain anonymous
A judge has ordered five federal employees suing President Trump and agency leaders over the partial government shutdown to use their real names, instead of pseudonyms, as the case proceeds. Published January 11, 2019
CDC: 6-7 million have gotten flu this season; Tens of thousands hospitalized
An estimated 6 million to 7 million people in the U.S. have been sickened by flu this season, the government said Friday in its first-ever mid-season report on key statistics. Published January 11, 2019
‘Essential’ workers expect to miss paychecks, sue for damages
The largest federal employee union on Thursday accused the government of violating labor law by failing to process paychecks for 420,000 "essential" workers who are toiling amid the partial government shutdown. Published January 10, 2019
