Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Democrats offer solution to Roy Moore: Vote for our guy for Senate in Alabama
Senate Democrats urged Alabama voters on Sunday to avoid the chaos and just vote for their guy for the Senate. Published November 12, 2017
Top House tax-writer won’t accept plank of Senate tax-cut plan
The House's main tax-writer said his chamber won't accept a Senate plan to eliminate a property tax deduction that's critical for states like New York and California, underscoring the thorny path Republicans face in settling on a final product by Christmas. Published November 12, 2017
Roy Moore, U.S. Senate nominee, should drop out of Alabama race, Sen. Pat Toomey says
A tide of Republicans are distancing themselves from Roy Moore, the GOP nominee for the Senate in Alabama, or urging him to drop out of the race without delay, saying they're unswayed by his rebuttal to claims that he pursued relationships with teen girls during his 30s. Published November 12, 2017
Former intel chiefs John Brennan, James Clapper unload on Donald Trump
Former intelligence chiefs said Sunday it is "astounding" that President Trump refuses to forcefully condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin over findings that Moscow interfered in last year's election. Published November 12, 2017
Trump admin. reports 600K Obamacare signups in first four days
More than 600,000 people selected an Obamacare plan during the first four days of enrollment, the Trump administration said Thursday in a report indicating the law is holding its own even as the White House plots its demise. Published November 9, 2017
Obamacare plan better deal than mandate tax for many uninsured: Study
More than half of the 10.7 million Americans who are uninsured and eligible for an Obamacare plan could pay less in premiums than what they would owe under the "individual mandate" tax for shirking coverage, nonpartisan policy analysts said Thursday. Published November 9, 2017
Terry McAuliffe: Virginia will be next state to expand Medicaid
Virginia will be the next state to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, Gov. Terry McAuliffe predicted this week, saying the massive wins by Democrats in the commonwealth on Tuesday make it all but certain the GOP will have to cave on its long-standing opposition. Published November 8, 2017
CBO: Repealing Obamacare mandate saves $338B
Repealing Obamacare's mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance would save the federal government $338 billion over the next decade as 13 million people would forgo coverage, freeing the government from having to subsidize them, scorekeepers said Wednesday in an analysis could reshape the Republican push to overhaul the tax code. Published November 8, 2017
Maine voters opt to expand access to Medicaid
Voters in Maine opted Tuesday to join dozens of states that have expanded Medicaid coverage under Obamacare, delivering a high-profile endorsement of taxpayer-funded coverage even as President Trump tries to dismantle the 2010 health care law. Published November 7, 2017
Trump admin. signals states can tie Medicaid to work
The Trump administration encouraged states Tuesday to get Medicaid recipients into the workforce, saying President Obama's refusal to set tougher conditions on able-bodied enrollees strained state budgets and failed to prioritize the truly needy. Published November 7, 2017
Obamacare interest rises, defying Donald Trump
States that run their own Obamacare markets say they are seeing a surge of interest by Americans checking plans, asking questions and signing up for coverage since the 2018 enrollment period opened last week, suggesting fears of a collapse as a result of Trump administration indifference may have been premature. Published November 6, 2017
Obamacare repeal push by Republicans bogs down tax plan hopes
Republicans won't get another crack at repealing Obamacare until next year, but fights over tweaking the law could drag down other parts of the GOP's agenda on Capitol Hill, including renewing funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and throwing a curve in the GOP's tax overhaul. Published November 5, 2017
House votes to extend children’s health program for 5 years
The House voted Friday to extend funding for an insurance program that covers 9 million children, as Republicans nudged aside Democrats who said lawmakers shouldn't have tapped Obamacare to pay for the bill. Published November 3, 2017
Nearly all HealthCare.gov counties offer no-premium plans: Study
Low-income Americans can actually find free insurance plans on Obamacare's exchanges, analysts said, scrambling a key attack line from Democrats who say the Trump administration's antipathy has ruined the health law. Published November 2, 2017
WH opioids panel approves final report
The U.S. should block-grant funding to the states to combat the prescription drug and heroin epidemic, expand the use of drugs to treat addiction and crack down on traffickers of deadly synthetics like fentanyl, the White House's opioids commission said Wednesday in its final report. Published November 1, 2017
Obama promotes health care law on first day of sign-ups
Barack Obama isn't president anymore, but that didn't stop him from stepping into the limelight on the first day of sign-ups under his namesake health law Wednesday. Published November 1, 2017
Democrats devise health care plans for 2018
Congressional Democrats are rolling out bills to patch holes in Obamacare and expand the federal footprint in health care, saying they want to have options ready to go if they win majorities in Congress next year. Published October 31, 2017
HHS: Obamacare ‘benchmark’ rates up 37 percent, choices dwindle
Obamacare customers will see higher premiums and fewer choices when they begin enrolling Wednesday for coverage next year, according to a series of studies that found the health care law's struggles are growing. Published October 30, 2017
Federal agents vow to hit the ground running after opioids declaration
Federal officials fanned across the country Friday to spotlight President Trump's decision to declare opioid addiction a public health emergency, vowing to disrupt narcotics networks and the "dark web" marketplace where anyone with a computer can buy deadly drugs from China and Mexico. Published October 27, 2017
Donald Trump declares public health emergency over opioids crisis
President Trump declared opioid-addiction a public health emergency Thursday, unlocking additional federal assistance for treatment and pledging a crackdown on drug traffickers, but leaving it to Congress to pump more money into solutions. Published October 26, 2017
