Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Democrats stall Trump Cabinet picks with boycott, panel shutdown
Democrats launched an all-out assault Tuesday on President Trump's Cabinet picks, boycotting one committee to block the health and treasury nominees and using arcane rules to force another panel to shut down before it could vote on attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. Published January 31, 2017
Democrats boycott markup of key Trump picks
Senate Democrats on Tuesday boycotted a critical markup of President Donald Trump's nominations to lead the Treasury and Health and Human Services departments, leaving a senior GOP leader aghast and saying there is "no excuse" for "this type of crap." Published January 31, 2017
Obamacare final open enrollment period closing
Obamacare entered its final hours of open enrollment — perhaps its last ever — under a cloud of uncertainty this week, as President Trump did little to prop up the program he's now tasked with administering. Published January 30, 2017
CDC: Flu is widespread and on the rise; Has killed eight children since October
The U.S. government is sounding the alarm over seasonal flu, saying it is on the rise and spreading widely in more than three dozen states. Published January 30, 2017
Republicans miss own deadline to begin repeal of Obamacare
Capitol Hill Republicans swept into power vowing to swiftly dismantle Obamacare with President Trump, but they already have blown their first self-imposed deadline to begin repealing the law. Published January 29, 2017
Trump administration yanks ads for Obamacare signups
The Trump administration has pulled the plug on federal Obamacare outreach and advertising in the critical final week of the 2017 signup period. Published January 26, 2017
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, former HHS secretary, named president of American University
Barely a week out of government, former Health and Human Services secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell has nabbed a new gig: president of American University in D.C. Published January 26, 2017
GOP leaders eye health care, tax overhaul by August recess
Congressional Republicans leaders outlined an aggressive agenda Thursday for the first 200 days of their partnership with President Trump, pledging to overhaul the U.S. health care and tax systems while looking for up to $15 billion to pay for Mr. Trump's border wall with Mexico. Published January 26, 2017
Obamacare helped those in deep-red states: Study
Poor adults in red states that expanded Medicaid under Obamacare were twice as likely to say the law had helped them than harmed them, according to a study released Wednesday that underscores the challenge before Republicans who want to revamp the program as part of their repeal-and-replace strategy. Published January 25, 2017
Rand Paul files Obamacare alternative
Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday he filed legislation that would replace Obamacare with a plan that lets Americans shop for insurance across state lines and use tax credits to save for care and prescription drugs. Published January 25, 2017
Tom Price, Donald Trump’s HHS pick, spars with Democrats over stock trading, Obamacare
Senate Democrats accused President Trump's pick for health secretary Tuesday of abusing his position through stock trading and warned him not to implement an executive order targeting Obamacare before the GOP offers a replacement. Published January 24, 2017
Trump moves to end Obama’s cost-free birth control mandate
The Trump administration will have to make quick decisions about Obamacare's mandate of cost-free birth control, facing looming legal and political deadlines that will determine just how much flexibility the new president wants to give on the thorny issue. Published January 23, 2017
New Republican Study Committee chief isn’t sweating Trump’s ‘political maturation’
The new chairman of the Republican Study Committee said Monday he isn't sweating President Donald Trump's lack of message discipline in his first few days in office, including the outspoken mogul's focus on media bias and Inauguration Day crowd sizes during a meeting with the CIA. Published January 23, 2017
Donald Trump’s ACA executive order appears to target Obamacare mandate
President Trump's sweeping order against Obamacare late Friday appears to give the new administration enough leeway to target the most unpopular aspect of his predecessor's law -- a mandate requiring Americans to get covered or pay a fine, policy analysts said. Published January 21, 2017
Senate confirms Trump’s defense, homeland security picks
In a message to Pentagon employees, Mr. Mattis said, "it's good to be back and I'm grateful to serve alongside you as secretary of Defense." Published January 20, 2017
James Mattis, John Kelly confirmed to Cabinet posts
The Senate confirmed President Trump's defense and homeland security secretaries Friday, helping fill out his national security team just hours after he was sworn in -- but Democrats were mounting roadblocks to the rest of the Cabinet. Published January 20, 2017
Pomp and circumstance continues after Trump sworn in
President Trump kicked off his presidency by upgrading from the fast-food and taco bowls of his campaign to a formal Capitol luncheon of Maine lobster and beef with juniper jus among the most powerful people in Washington -- including his vanquished foe, Hillary Clinton. Published January 20, 2017
Donald J. Trump sworn as 45th president
Donald John Trump, first dismissed as a stuntman, then a nuisance, then a threat to the political order, took the oath of office Friday to become the 45th president of the United States, ushering in one of the most compelling administrations in history. Published January 20, 2017
Obamacare on life support as GOP takes over White House, Congress
In the end, Obamacare may have simply proved to be too unwieldy to work. Published January 19, 2017
Tom Price seeks universal ‘access’ to health coverage, says Medicare overhaul isn’t on horizon
President-elect Donald Trump's choice for health secretary, Rep. Tom Price, on Wednesday said the government should replace federal regulations aimed at universal health coverage with market forces that ensure "access" to affordable care, without pulling the rug out from anyone who got used to Obamacare. Published January 18, 2017
