Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Regan Nichols, doctor who prescribed ‘horrifyingly excessive’ amount of opioids, charged with murder
An Oklahoma doctor accused of prescribing a "horrifyingly excessive" amount of painkillers was charged with murder Friday, a pioneering prosecution that reflects nationwide efforts to stamp out the opioid crisis. Published June 23, 2017
Pelosi rallies Democrats to fight Senate health bill: ‘The next few days are critical’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told Democrats Friday to dig up and air stories about the "devastating impact" that a GOP plan to replace Obamacare could have on the most vulnerable, as Republicans try to pin down votes and fulfill their repeal promise before the July 4 holiday. Published June 23, 2017
Health care lobbyists locked out of Republican process
The health care bill was drafted behind closed doors by Senate Republican leaders, drawing howls from Democrats who said they were shut out of the process. Also left outside, however, was the army of health care industry lobbyists who helped draft Obamacare in 2009 and 2010 but didn't get a say this time. Published June 22, 2017
Obama slams Senate GOP plan to repeal his health law
Former President Barack Obama slammed the Senate GOP's plan to replace his health care law Thursday, saying it's time to "step back" and devise the type of plan that Americans need, as the signature program he crafted suffers from rising premiums and dwindling choices. Published June 22, 2017
Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson oppose draft of GOP health plan
Four Senate Republicans said Thursday they oppose the Senate's new health care bill as written, meaning passage could be in jeopardy unless leaders tweak the bill enough to satisfy them. Published June 22, 2017
Senate GOP unveils Obamacare replacement; offers tax subsidies for poor, Medicaid expansion
Republican leaders faced an immediate backlash Thursday after revealing their Obamacare replacement bill, leaving campaign vows to repeal the 2010 health care law in doubt as the Senate pushes toward a showdown on the chamber floor next week. Published June 22, 2017
Donald Trump to help Senate with health care bill vote
President Trump may be called upon once again to deliver support for a Republican health care bill as the Senate angles for a vote next week. Published June 21, 2017
Scott Walker to Senate GOP: ‘No excuses’ for failing to repeal Obamacare
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker urged Senate Republicans on Wednesday to keep their promise to repeal Obamacare, saying there are "no excuses" for failing to get it done. Published June 21, 2017
GOP: Senate will unveil health bill on Thursday
Senate GOP leaders will release a "discussion draft" of their closely held plan to replace Obamacare on Thursday, kicking off a one-week scramble to mollify holdouts and gather the 50 Republican votes needed to pass a bill before the July 4 break. Published June 20, 2017
Obamacare repeal effort by GOP stonewalled by Democrats
In 2013, it was Republicans who sent the government into a shutdown over Obamacare. Democrats aren't there yet, but they are inching up their resistance efforts, ratcheting up their attacks and vowing to slow Senate business to a crawl, hoping to make the GOP's Obamacare repeal push as painful as possible. Published June 19, 2017
Senate Dems plan to jam up business to protest health push
Democrats said Monday they plan to begin jamming up business in the Senate to protest the GOP majority's secret negotiations over health care. Published June 19, 2017
Democrats blitz airwaves as GOP debates health care
Democratic operatives and their progressive allies flooded the airwaves Monday with ads pressuring GOP senators to reject an emerging -- yet so far secret -- bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Published June 19, 2017
‘Repeal and replace’ plan forces state-run exchanges to grapple with uncertain future
As Congress plans the repeal of Obamacare, government websites set up to sell insurance under the program are beginning to grapple with an uncertain future and whether they can adapt to a GOP model down the road. Published June 18, 2017
Chuck Schumer invites GOP to open talks on health care
Hoping to force the GOP's health care plans out of the shadows, a top-ranking Democrat invited Senate Republicans to engage in a bipartisan negotiation next week over the future of Obamacare. Published June 16, 2017
Democrats urge Congress to protect state medical marijuana programs
Senate Democrats on Thursday urged Congress to pass legislation that bars federal authorities from interfering with medical marijuana programs, saying the Trump administration appears to be readying a crackdown on life-changing cannabis care. Published June 15, 2017
Lamar Alexander to HHS: Keep Obamacare payments flowing for now
Another prominent Republican is urging the Trump administration to guarantee critical Obamacare payments on a temporary basis, saying the individual insurance market is in free-fall and needs stability while the GOP works to reshape health care. Published June 15, 2017
Steve Scalise, Zachary Barth, two Capitol Hill Police officers among the wounded in shooting
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was fielding ground balls near second base on the baseball diamond Wednesday, making him one of the first targets for the gunman who attempted a murderous rampage Wednesday. Published June 14, 2017
Ryan Costello: I missed my ride to GOP baseball practice by 2 minutes
Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania narrowly missed his ride for a GOP baseball practice in suburban D.C. Wednesday, only to get an "ugly jolt" when he saw TV reports that a gunman had opened fire at that very session, wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a congressional aide and two police officers. Published June 14, 2017
Gabby Giffords: ‘My heart is with my former colleagues’
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords took to Twitter to share her thoughts in the wake of a gunman opening fire on Republican members of Congress practicing for an upcoming charity baseball game against Democrats. Published June 14, 2017
Rand Paul: ‘Do we lay here, stay low and hope he doesn’t hit us?’
Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, said he was in the batting cage Wednesday when he heard an isolated shot and then a rapid succession of five or 10 shots at the congressional baseball practice in Virginia. Published June 14, 2017
