Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Reince Priebus, W.H. chief of staff, bullish on health care: I think it will happen this week
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Monday he thinks the House will pass its Obamacare replacement bill very soon and that it is not overdue, despite critics' claims. Published May 1, 2017
Trumpcare may see insurers exit if president ends cost-sharing
A major Obamacare insurer says it will quit the program immediately if the White House cancels cost-sharing payments, underscoring the dilemma facing President Trump, who is trying to use the money as leverage to force Democrats to the bargaining table. Published April 30, 2017
Steny Hoyer: Quick health care vote will imperil spending talks
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Thursday he will encourage Democrats to oppose a funding bill designed to buy time for 2017 spending talks if Republicans try to hold a vote on their health care bill this week. Published April 27, 2017
House Freedom Caucus endorses health plan, boosting GOP leaders and Donald Trump
The hard-line conservatives who helped sink Republicans' first Obamacare repeal attempt reversed course Wednesday and officially endorsed the latest plan designed to slash costs for healthy Americans, giving congressional leaders a critical boost as they seek a do-over. Published April 26, 2017
Obamacare favored by majority of Americans: Poll
New polling says the GOP's latest ideas on health care are unpopular and that a majority of Americans will hold President Trump and his congressional allies responsible for Obamacare's problems moving forward, underscoring the tall task before Republicans sticking to a repeal-and-replace strategy. Published April 26, 2017
Donald Trump’s border wall concession clears way for spending bill
Congressional negotiators closed in on a spending deal Tuesday after President Trump backed off his demand for border wall funding, saying he doesn't need an immediate infusion of cash for the project, clearing the way for Capitol Hill to hash out a bill that avoids an end-of-week government shutdown. Published April 25, 2017
Steny Hoyer: ‘We’re about to drown in the swamp’ after Trump’s first 100 days
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer on Tuesday pilloried Mr. Trump's first 100 days in office on Tuesday, saying his health care bill and budget didn't match his campaign promises and that he undermined foreign confidence in America though his contested travel ban. Published April 25, 2017
Majorities reject new GOP ideas for replacing Obamacare: Poll
Majorities of the American public disagree with ideas the House GOP is floating to bridge a gap within its own conference and overhaul health care, according to a poll released Tuesday. Published April 25, 2017
Defeat of Ebola means temporary legal status for thousands of West Africans will expire
In a sign the U.S. considers Ebola to be vanquished, immigration officials are reminding thousands of West Africans to pack their bags and return home or risk deportation when their temporary legal status expires in one month. Published April 23, 2017
Mick Mulvaney tries to ease shutdown fears
President Trump and his budget team are voicing confidence that a government shutdown will be averted before Friday's deadline, even as they methodically go through an Obama-era checklist of preparations for shuttering departments and agencies just in case Congress can't agree on a spending bill in time. Published April 23, 2017
Donald Trump insists Mexico will pay for border wall, despite U.S. down payment
President Trump insisted Sunday he will keep his campaign vow to build a southern border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. Published April 23, 2017
White House officials hold out hope for health care vote this week
Top White House officials on Sunday said they hope House Republicans will vote on a health care agreement this week. Published April 23, 2017
Reince Priebus, WH chief of staff: Trump will work with whoever wins French election
Reince Priebus said President Trump's interest in France's presidential election shouldn't be interpreted as him putting his thumb on the scales for one candidate over another. Published April 23, 2017
Mick Mulvaney, budget director: “Don’t know yet” if Trump will sign bill without wall money
Mick Mulvaney on Sunday said it is unclear whether President Trump would sign a funding bill that doesn't include money for his border wall with Mexico. Published April 23, 2017
Rep. Mark Sanford: Emerging plan to unshackle states on health care ‘makes sense’
Rep. Mark Sanford said a House proposal could help President Trump and GOP leaders move forward with their repeal-and-replace-Obamacare strategy. Published April 23, 2017
John Kelly, Homeland Security chief: ‘Dreamers’ aren’t deportation targets
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said anyone in the country illegally is subject to deportation by law but so-called "Dreamers" should rest easy. Published April 23, 2017
Congress, WHO sound the alarm over pandemic bird flu or avian flu in China
House Republicans sounded the alarm Friday over an avian flu threat that's escalating in China, saying it underscores the need to finish and vet an overdue plan for responding to pandemic flu at home. Published April 21, 2017
House GOP compromise on health care reform emerges, though centrists might still balk
Under pressure to deliver a win for President Trump, House Republicans are working on a new Obamacare repeal compromise that could bridge the divide between hard-line conservatives and centrists who tanked the first attempt. Published April 20, 2017
CDC campaign warns of opioid abuse
Ann Marie Perrotto fingers the heart-shaped locket hanging around her neck with a photo of her son, Christopher, then recounts how she had to buy the suit and tie she buried him in. Published April 19, 2017
UnitedHealth beats earnings forecasts as it pulls out of Obamacare markets
UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday said its profits rose in the first quarter, as it retreats from Obamacare's wobbly insurance markets but sees growth in other lines of business. Published April 18, 2017
