Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Kyrsten Sinema, Republicans move to repeal Obamacare tax on insurers
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a freshman Democrat, and two Republicans filed a bill Thursday that would repeal Obamacare's tax on health insurers, saying the levy increases premiums and should be scrapped permanently. Published January 10, 2019
Bernie Sanders: U.S. consumers must pay fairer prices for drugs
Liberal lawmakers released a package of bills Thursday designed to test Washington's appetite for novel ways to control runaway drug costs, saying U.S. consumers are getting stiffed by prices that are far higher than what other countries pay. Published January 10, 2019
House votes to intervene in Obamacare lawsuit
The House voted along party lines Wednesday to intervene in an lawsuit that threatens to kill off Obamacare, as Democrats tried to paint the GOP into a corner over its professed support for shielding people with preexisting conditions. Published January 9, 2019
Chuck Grassley to scrutinize health mergers, will protect farmers and GOP tax bill
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley said Wednesday he will oppose any attempts by Democrats to roll back the GOP's 2017 tax reforms and scrutinize whether blockbuster health care mergers are harming consumers. Published January 9, 2019
Gavin Newsom, Bill de Blasio push for health care for illegal immigrants in California, New York
Health care proposals in California, New York City reopen the thorny debate over providing taxpayer-funded benefits to people living in the U.S. illegally, an idea that flies in the face of President Trump's fight against illegal immigration and places that offer them sanctuary. Published January 8, 2019
Bill de Blasio unveils plan for universal health care
In a surprise announcement, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday the city will launch a program that offers health services to people who've been shut out of insurance options or affordable care, including illegal immigrants. Published January 8, 2019
John Yarmuth asks CBO for to-do list on ‘Medicare for all’
House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth asked congressional scorekeepers Tuesday to outline for Democrats the logistical and financial trade-offs they must consider as they craft bills to provide "Medicare for all." Published January 8, 2019
Federal employees to seek damages if government doesn’t issue their paychecks on Friday, lawyer says
Federal employees forced to work without pay during the partial shutdown will seek damages if the government fails to send them their paychecks Friday, according to a lawyer who won a similar lawsuit during the last major shutdown. Published January 7, 2019
House Democrats to examine idea of government-run health care system
House Democrats say they will study the promise or pitfalls of a government-run health system out of the gate, setting the stage for hearings on the marquee idea championed by Sen. Bernard Sanders and outspoken freshmen as the left flexes its new clout. Published January 6, 2019
Medicaid chief leaves position after three months, joins DeSantis in Florida
The federal government's Medicaid chief is leaving the Trump administration after three months on the job to work for Florida Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis instead, officials announced Friday. Published January 4, 2019
New senators take oath of office, expand GOP majority
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a veteran Democrat who was sworn in to her sixth term Thursday, stopped in her tracks when she spotted freshman Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, in the Capitol basement. Published January 3, 2019
Blue states file notice they will appeal anti-Obamacare ruling
A blue-state coalition notified a federal court Thursday it will appeal the bombshell ruling that found Congress' decision to tweak Obamacare in its tax bill made the rest of the program unconstitutional. Published January 3, 2019
Senate Republicans seek continuity with no immediate rules changes on agenda
Senate Republicans are aiming for continuity as they prepare to expand their majority Thursday, with no immediate rules changes and hopes their increased numbers will prevent the sorts of hiccups that dented their agenda over the last two years. Published January 2, 2019
Reed O’Connor: Obamacare unconstitutional ruling stayed pending appeals
A federal judge on Sunday said his decision that Obamacare is unconstitutional should be put on ice pending an appeal to higher courts. Published December 30, 2018
Drug cartels return to producing meth, cocaine after opioid crack down
The rate of opioid overdose deaths began to plateau in early 2018, notching a victory for public health officials — but like water seeking the path of least resistance, adaptive drug cartels are turning back to the previous moneymakers of cocaine and methamphetamine. Published December 30, 2018
Kevin McAleenan, U.S. Customs and Border Protection chief, says migrant child deaths ‘devastating’
The chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Sunday the death of two immigrant children in their custody was "devastating" but that agents did everything they could to save them once they showed signs of illness. Published December 30, 2018
Richard Shelby decries ‘blame game’ over government shutdown
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said negotiations to reopen the government are "at an impasse" and that all sides need to stop pointing fingers to fix the situation. Published December 30, 2018
Lindsey Graham floats renewable legal status in exchange for border wall funding
Democrats and the White House must drop the "blame game" and restart talks to reopen the government fully, weary lawmakers said Sunday as Capitol Hill lurched toward the new year without any sign that they will break the impasse over President Trump's border wall. Published December 30, 2018
Kellyanne Conway backs Trump on migrant deaths: ‘I think the president’s point is an important one’
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Sunday defended President Trump's decision to lay blame for the deaths of two migrant children at the feet of Democrats, saying stronger border-security measures would deter attempts to cross illegally. Published December 30, 2018
Protests disrupt Ebola response in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Outrage over the Democratic Republic of the Congo's decision to postpone an election in Ebola-affected parts of the country are disrupting the response to the virus, as protests spilled Thursday from government buildings into an assessment center for patients, the World Health Organization said. Published December 28, 2018
