Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Adam Schiff says Nunes memo ‘political hit job’ on FBI
Rep. Adam Schiff of California said Sunday a House GOP memo criticizing the government's push to snoop on a Trump campaign aide is a "political hit job on the FBI at the service of the president." Published February 4, 2018
HHS approves Indiana plan to tie Medicaid benefits to work
Indiana has become the second state to require some Medicaid enrollees to work if they want to keep their coverage, extending President Trump's push to revamp taxpayer-funded insurance without help from Congress. Published February 2, 2018
Flu season has killed more than 50 children: CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the resignation of its director will not disrupt efforts to combat a severe flu season that's killed more than 50 children and is on pace to break hospitalization records. Published February 2, 2018
Lindsey Graham tells GOP to continue fight against Obamacare
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina pleaded with fellow Republicans Thursday to keep their fight against Obamacare alive, saying it's "naive" to think repeal of the mandate to hold insurance is good enough. Published February 1, 2018
Trump administration proposes ways to limit opioids under Medicare
The Trump administration said Thursday it wants to check the flow of potentially dangerous opioids to seniors, curtailing initial fills of some pain pills and adding a "trigger" for patients who seek too many opioids from the pharmacist. Published February 1, 2018
Nonprofit pledges ‘more than seven figures’ in push to slash drug prices
A patient-advocacy group said Thursday it is prepared to spend "more than seven figures" to promote 2018 midterm candidates who are committed to slashing drug prices, saying the campaign is needed to counteract lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry. Published February 1, 2018
Maggie Hassan: Donald Trump ‘all talk, little action’ on opioids
President Trump has been "all talk, little action" on the opioids crisis, Sen. Maggie Hassan charged Thursday, citing his failure to outline specific policy or funding demands in his recent State of the Union Address. Published February 1, 2018
Democrats urge HHS to stop Idaho plan to skirt Obamacare
The state of Idaho appears to be violating federal law by proposing the sale of insurance plans that do not comply with Obamacare's strictures, top Democrats said Wednesday, pressing the Trump administration to either justify the proposal or intervene. Published January 31, 2018
Brenda Fitzgerald, CDC chief, resigns amid questions about stock trades
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resigned Wednesday amid unflattering reports about financial conflicts of interest. Published January 31, 2018
Donald Trump pitches ways to improve opioid education, prevention
President Trump called for Americans to rally against opioid abuse in his State of the Union address Tuesday as Republicans in Congress said they'll schedule hearings to figure out what help Washington can provide states slammed by the epidemic. Published January 30, 2018
House OKs bill requiring coaches to report youth sex abuse allegations in 24 hours
The House passed a bill Monday requiring coaches, staff and other adults to report suspected sexual abuse of young athletes within 24 hours, advancing Congress's response to a molestation scandal that stunned U.S. gymnastics, a state university and the entire nation. Published January 29, 2018
Alex Azar sworn as HHS secretary; Trump orders him to bring down drug prices
Alex Azar was sworn Monday as secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, filling a critical seat in President Trump's cabinet that for months had been filled by an acting boss. Published January 29, 2018
Classics Act fixes musicians’ ‘Pre-72’ royalty problem with streaming services, satellite radio
Recording artist Booker T. Jones shot to fame in the 1960s with "Green Onions," a bluesy instrumental that fused a bouncy Hammond organ and jangly Fender Telecaster into an instantly recognizable hit. Published January 28, 2018
State Dept. eyes mailroom data by 2020 to intercept foreign fentanyl
The State Department, hoping to mollify lawmakers who say deadly opioids are being mailed illegally into the country, told Congress on Thursday that within two years most countries will be able to describe packages to inspectors before the parcels enter the U.S. Published January 25, 2018
USPS delivers opioids from China with easy sales
Purchasing opioids from China requires little more than a Google search, a credit card and a mailbox, senators said Thursday in a report that accuses the U.S. postal system of failing to "recognize and prepare for" a tide of packages containing deadly fentanyl. Published January 24, 2018
Senate approves Alex Azar as HHS secretary
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Alex Azar as secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, entrusting a former pharmaceutical executive to tamp down drug prices and steer President Trump's attempts to reshape Obamacare. Published January 24, 2018
Bernie Sanders pitches ‘Medicare for all’ plan on Facebook
Sen. Bernard Sanders took to Facebook on Tuesday to pitch his "Medicare for all" plan to the public, hoping to rally liberal voters — but putting red-state Democrats in a tough spot ahead of November's elections. Published January 23, 2018
Donald Trump falls short of promise to spend ‘a lot of money’ on opioid crisis
President Trump last year pledged to spend "a lot money" on the opioid crisis but used his platform to focus on military and border-security spending instead, nudging the fight to the sidelines and forcing all sides to look for actual progress in 2018. Published January 22, 2018
HHS announces pro-life moves amid March for Life
The Trump administration on Friday rescinded an Obama-era crackdown on states that tried to defund Planned Parenthood and said it will require health care providers to follow conscience-protection laws as a condition of federal funding. Published January 19, 2018
March for Life activists target abortion funding from taxes
As pro-life marchers descend on Washington on Friday they are confronting a new battlefield in the abortion debate, having to fend off increasing challenges to a decades-old agreement that acknowledged while abortion may be legal, taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for a procedure that many of them find abhorrent. Published January 18, 2018
