Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Lamar Alexander at Tom Price hearing: Repeal and replace must be simultaneous
A leading Senate Republican Wednesday used a courtesy hearing for Rep. Tom Price to become President-elect Donald Trump's health secretary to lay down his marker on repeal of Obamacare, saying it cannot occur until the Republican-led Congress has a suitable replacement in hand. Published January 18, 2017
Tom Price’s stock trades raise hurdle to HHS confirmation
Rep. Tom Price is quickly shooting to the top of the list of most embattled Trump nominees ahead of his confirmation hearing Wednesday as Democrats accuse him of ethical lapses, saying he may have used his position in Congress to try to enrich himself. Published January 17, 2017
CBO: 32M uninsured under GOP’s Obamacare repeal by 2026
The number of people who are uninsured would spike to 32 million and premiums would double by 2026 if Congress passes a GOP-driven bill to repeal key portions of Obamacare without a replacement, congressional scorekeepers said Tuesday. Published January 17, 2017
Obamacare repeal effort by GOP ramps up before Trump even sworn in
Republicans used the first two weeks of the new Congress to pry open the door to Obamacare's repeal, even before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Published January 15, 2017
House passes budget to begin Obamacare repeal
The House passed a 2017 budget Friday that lays the groundwork for dismantling Obamacare, brushing aside intra-GOP anxiety and defiant Democrats to launch the repeal-and-replace strategy staked out by President-elect Donald Trump. Published January 13, 2017
Paul Ryan to launch ‘rescue mission’ to simultaneously repeal and replace Obamacare
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Friday will launch a self-described "rescue mission" to save America from rising premiums and dwindling choices under Obamacare, hoping he can rally enough Republicans to back the simultaneous "repeal and replace" approach carved out by President-elect Donald Trump. Published January 12, 2017
Paul Ryan confident that ‘disgusting’ painting will be removed from Capitol
House Speaker Paul Ryan waded into the debate Thursday over a controversial painting depicting cops as animals, saying he is confident the "disgusting" painting will have to come down. Published January 12, 2017
GOP defends Obamacare repeal over Democrats’ tough votes
Senate Republicans on Thursday imposed a deadline on their plans to dismantle President Obama's health care law, saying Americans are demanding relief from rising prices and dwindling choices even if the path toward a replacement is politically perilous. Published January 11, 2017
Obamacare signups reach 11.5 million, outpacing previous year
The latest round of Obamacare sign-ups is running ahead of pace compared to a year earlier, the administration said Tuesday, providing backup for Democrats who say the law isn't spiraling out of control and only needs fixes, not a full repeal. Published January 10, 2017
Sylvia Mathews Burwell to GOP: Delayed health plan is not what Americans deserve
President Obama's top health official on Monday used her final public defense of Obamacare to accuse Republicans of scheming to cut benefits under the banner of "state flexibility," while daring them to devise a plan that doesn't take a step backward on health care. Published January 9, 2017
Obama, Democrats now willing to tweak Obamacare as Senate moves toward repeal
After six years of resisting legislative changes to Obamacare, President Obama and Democrats now say they're ready to work on fixes to the massive health law — so long as they expand the federal government's role in health care. Published January 8, 2017
Donald Trump: No Vladimir Putin punishment; Democrats invited election hacking
President Obama and senior congressional Republicans said Sunday it is clear that Russia hacked emails to interfere with the U.S. election, but President-elect Donald Trump rejected talk of punishing Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Democrats and the White House invited attacks through weak cyberdefenses. Published January 8, 2017
Obama: Donald Trump has been cordial, even if they’re “sort of opposites”
President Obama on Sunday said he and his Twitter-loving successor, Donald Trump, are "sort of opposites in some ways." Published January 8, 2017
Mitch McConnnell, Senate majority leader: We will replace Obamacare ‘very rapidly’ after repeal
Mitch McConnell on Sunday wouldn't commit to a firm timetable for replacing Obamacare, saying it would occur "rapidly" or "very quickly" after the law's repeal this year. Published January 8, 2017
Obama: I underestimated cyber influence in new age
President Obama on Sunday said that he might have underestimated Vladimir Putin's intent to use cyberspace to exert his influence on the world stage. Published January 8, 2017
Kellyanne Conway, Trump adviser: Voters didn’t need Wikileaks to dislike Hillary Clinton
Incoming White House counselor Kellyanne Conway argued that there is plenty of blame to go around for Russian hacking and any effect it had on the U.S. presidential election. Published January 8, 2017
Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator,: On Russian hacking, Donald Trump worried about own legitimacy
Lindsey Graham implored President-elect Donald Trump Sunday to change his tune and punish Russians accused of interfering in the U.S. election. Published January 8, 2017
Obama: GOP Obamacare repeal plan is ‘simply put, irresponsible’
President Obama on Friday openly dared Republicans to craft a better health care plan than his signature overhaul, saying he will concede the mantle of reform if they can cover as many people, keep costs down and produce a stable marketplace. Published January 6, 2017
Obamacare battle: Americans divided on plan to repeal first, replace later: Poll
The American public remains deeply divided over Obamacare, but only 1 in 5 back a Republican plan first to repeal the law, then to come up with a replacement, according to a timely poll that says most people want Congress to have a firm alternative in hand before it pulls the plug on the existing system. Published January 6, 2017
Nancy Pelosi, allies prep for war over Obamacare, Planned Parenthood
House Democrats and their nonprofit allies accused Republicans Thursday of launching a two-pronged assault on women's health care by using fast-track budget rules to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood over its abortion practice. Published January 5, 2017
