Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump admin finalizes sweeping carve-out from Obamacare contraception mandate
The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized rules that allow a wide range of employers to duck Obamacare's contraceptive mandate by claiming "sincerely held religious beliefs" or a moral objection. Published November 7, 2018
Three deep-red states vote to expand Medicaid
Three ruby-red states voted Tuesday to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, meaning more than 300,000 people will be eligible for taxpayer-funded insurance once Republican governors begin drawing down federal funds. Published November 7, 2018
Elaine Luria beats Rep. Scott Taylor in Va 2 District
Democrat Elaine Luria on Tuesday defeated GOP Rep. Scott Taylor in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District race, notching another pick-up for Democrats in the state. Published November 7, 2018
Dianne Feinstein brushes aside Kevin de Leon in California Senate race
Sen. Dianne Feinstein swept to victory Tuesday in California, swatting aside a challenge from her left and jeers over her handling of allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Published November 6, 2018
Denver Riggleman wins in Virginia’s 5th District
Republican Denver Riggleman on Tuesday was elected to represent Virginia's 5th Congressional District in Congress, turning aside a challenge from Democrat Leslie Cockburn. Published November 6, 2018
Trump: No heads-up from Sessions on Obamacare position
Two months after oral arguments, a federal judge hasn't said whether a Republican tweak to Obamacare should stop the entire program in its tracks, pushing an explosive fight over the law beyond the midterms and forcing voters to decide which party can be trusted to balance protections for pre-existing conditions with affordable coverage. Published November 5, 2018
Donald Trump, Republicans see larger Senate majority as midterm win
Republicans entered the 48-hour sprint to Election Day confident they can expand their Senate majority while bracing for a knife fight over the House. Published November 4, 2018
Ronna McDaniel says Republicans can keep House
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Sunday said she's "absolutely not" resigned to losing the House on Election Day, saying candidates have a winning message despite a surge of enthusiasm among Democrats and President Trump's suggestion he'll "figure it out" if his rivals take the chamber. Published November 4, 2018
Brian Kemp opens ‘cyber crimes’ probe into Georgia Democrats
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican locked in a tough race for governor, has opened an investigation into the Democratic Party of Georgia, citing "possible cyber crimes" after it detected a failed attempt to hack voter-registration systems. Published November 4, 2018
Chris Van Hollen downplays Democrats’ chances of taking Senate control
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Democrats could retake the Senate on Tuesday but he's realistic about their dim prospects, calling it the "toughest political map any one party has faced in 60 years." Published November 4, 2018
NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds voters want Democrats to control Congress
Democrats hold a 7-point edge over Republicans as voters decide which party should control Congress, according to a poll released Sunday that finds record enthusiasm on both sides. Published November 4, 2018
Stacey Abrams rejects Donald Trump claim she’s ‘not qualified’ for Georgia governor
Stacey Abrams, a Democrat running in Georgia, rejected President Trump's claim she is "not qualified" to become governor, citing her accomplishments in law school, business and minority leader in the state House of Representatives. Published November 4, 2018
Kevin de Leon, Dianne Feinstein challenger, wins Republicans’ support in California Senate race
California State Sen. Kevin de Leon is running far to the left -- yet he's winning over Republicans in his bid to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein next week, in one of the weirder bits of fallout from the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Published November 1, 2018
Daniel Best, senior adviser in charge of drug-pricing plan, has died
Daniel Best, the senior adviser in charge of President Trump's campaign to slash drug prices, has died, the administration said Thursday. Published November 1, 2018
Obama steps into midterm fight over health law, pre-existing conditions
Former President Obama on Thursday stepped into the midterm fight over insurance for sicker Americans, saying protections built into his signature health law are "absolutely at stake" on Election Day. Published November 1, 2018
Spike in Obamacare sign-ups this year unlikely, say experts
Obamacare is polling better and the premiums are no longer soaring, but experts don't forecast a sign-up boom when the new enrollment season kicks off Thursday. Published October 31, 2018
Trump administration lets Wisconsin condition Medicaid benefits on work requirements
The Trump administration approved Wisconsin's request to impose work requirements on some Medicaid enrollees, making it the fourth state to condition benefits on seeking a job or volunteering in the community. Published October 31, 2018
C.L. Butch Otter supports expanding Medicaid in Idaho
Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican, used to say that accepting Obamacare's expansion of Medicaid would be a betrayal of his state's independence — and a severe drain on its budget. Published October 30, 2018
Pipe bombs, synagogue shooting result of heated rhetoric
Moments after President Trump called for an end to the politics of personal destruction at a rally in North Carolina late Friday, the crowd broke into the president's trademark Hillary Clinton chant: "Lock her up!" Published October 28, 2018
Robert Bowers, Pittsburgh gunman, wanted ‘all Jews to die’
The gunman who opened fire on a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday killed a 97-year-old woman and 10 others while shouting about genocide and "his desire to kill Jewish people," authorities reported Sunday, as city officials vowed to triumph over anyone who divides their denizens based on how they pray. Published October 28, 2018
