Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
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
Opioid funds tied to Obamacare repeal
Senate Republicans are dangling billions of dollars in opioid-fighting funds to try to entice wary moderates to sign onto their Obamacare repeal bill, looking to ink a final compromise. Published June 13, 2017
Mike Pence says Obamacare is in ‘death spiral,’ cites insurer exits
Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday said Obamacare is in the throes of an "ongoing collapse" and that states across the Midwest will suffer the most next year, even as one insurer announced it is bucking the grim outlook and expanding its footprint in the law's exchanges. Published June 13, 2017
Obamacare lost 2 million enrollees since 2017 signups: Trump report
Nearly 2 million people have dropped out of Obamacare coverage they selected during the 2017 enrollment season, the Trump administration said Monday in a report that argues Americans are clamoring for more affordable options. Published June 12, 2017
Obamacare repeal remains Trump’s chief priority, Mike Pence says
Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday said eliminating Obamacare remains the chief priority for the administration, as it works with congressional Republicans to replace the law before the summer is over. Published June 10, 2017
Tom Price, HHS chief, and Democrats spar over Obamacare’s future
President Trump's health secretary on Thursday refused to commit his boss to making critical Obamacare payments through the coming year, infuriating Democrats who say the administration is sabotaging the insurance markets to bolster its case for repeal. Published June 8, 2017
Al Green: I’m drafting articles of impeachment
Rep. Al Green, a maverick Democrat, said Wednesday he is drafting articles of impeachment against President Trump, alleging the Republican president broke the law in May and must be held to account. Published June 7, 2017
Donald Trump meets with ‘Obamacare victims’ to whip up support for repeal
President Trump told Congress on Wednesday to keep toiling and send him a health care bill, saying Obamacare is in "absolute turmoil" and claiming victims in Ohio and other places as Republicans struggle to reach consensus on a replacement plan. Published June 7, 2017
Mitch McConnell: Obamacare repeal bill ‘close’ in Senate
Senate GOP leaders said Tuesday they're "close" to settling on their own plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, as pressure mounts on them to deliver on their health promises before the August recess. Published June 6, 2017
Andrew Cuomo moves to enshrine Obamacare protections
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said he will require insurers to cover Obamacare's "essential" health benefits and charge healthy and sick people the same amount, declaring his progressive state won't "stand idly by" as Republicans in Congress try to dismantle the 2010 health care law. Published June 5, 2017
Democrats depending on ‘repeal, replace’ plan to harm GOP in 2018 races
Democrats are counting on the GOP's anti-Obamacare push to wound Republicans heading into the 2018 elections, hoping to rescue themselves for what should otherwise be a very bad year at the polls for Senate Democrats. Published June 4, 2017
Narcan, naloxone: Baltimore makes opioid overdose-reversing drug available over the counter
Citing an opioid crisis that's claiming hundreds of city lives each year, Baltimore made an overdose-reversing drug available over the counter on Thursday in a bid to make the antidote as prevalent as possible. Published June 1, 2017
