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Tom Howell Jr.

Tom Howell Jr.

Tom Howell Jr. covers politics and the White House for The Washington Times. He can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, following GOP strategy session at the Republican National Committee offices. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House panel advances bill to keep jackpot winners off Medicaid

House Republicans tried to kickstart their bid to replace Obamacare Tuesday by advancing bills that prevent lottery winners or other undeserving people from qualifying for Medicaid, saying the government insurance program for the poor is costing taxpayers too much and cannot bear enrollees who don't need it. Published February 7, 2017

"I think a year from now we're going to be celebrating this tax reform act," Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam said Monday in a speech to the Heritage Foundation. (Associated Press)

Peter Roskam: Congress will overhaul tax code in 2017

Congress will pass an elusive overhaul of the U.S. tax code this year, a key member of the GOP's tax-writing team predicted Monday, saying lawmakers have reached an "inflection point" on onerous rules that are driving companies overseas and failing to reward those who stay. Published February 6, 2017

President Donald Trump walks down the steps of Air Force One upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, returning from a weekend trip to Florida. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Obamacare replacement by Republicans facing bump of insurers’ concerns

The Trump administration and Capitol Hill Republicans are trying to stabilize the individual health insurance market, hoping to keep insurers from canceling plans or raising rates in 2018 as uncertainty builds over what a replacement for Obamacare might look like. Published February 6, 2017

A woman walks past a sign advertising "Obamacare", Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in Miami. The enrollment period for the federal health care law known as "Obamacare" ends at the end of the day Tuesday. The Republican-lead Senate has passed a measure to take the first step forward on dismantling President Barack Obama's health care law. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) **FILE**

Obamacare hits slump, falls short of 2016 pace

After years of steady growth Obamacare's sign-ups slumped in 2017, according to early numbers that suggest the law is struggling now that President Obama is no longer in office to give it a boost. Published February 5, 2017

In this Oct. 24, 2016 file photo, the HealthCare.gov 2017 web site home page as seen in Washington. Republicans are increasingly talking about repairing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, a softening of tone that comes as their drive to fulfill a keystone campaign promise encounters disunity, drooping momentum and uneasy voters. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

HealthCare.gov signups fall short of last year, at 9.2M

The Trump administration said Friday that 9.2 million people signed up for health coverage this year on the main Obamacare website, a drop-off of about 400,000 customers from last year's effort. Published February 3, 2017

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. arrives with Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, for a closed-door GOP strategy session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Obamacare repeal: House conservatives demand vote

House Republicans floated legislation Thursday to start replacing Obamacare bit by bit, but some vocal conservatives said the GOP needs to speed the whole process up, saying they promised voters during last year's campaign a quick vote on repealing the health law. Published February 2, 2017

From left: Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa confer on Wednesday after the Judiciary Committee, after angry partisan exchanges, voted to approve the nomination of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. (Associated Press)

Cabinet battle signals Democratic resistance to Trump

Senate business ground to a halt Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans turned to hardball tactics in the fight over President Trump's Cabinet nominees, signaling the wall of opposition the administration is likely to face for the foreseeable future. Published February 1, 2017

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act, who are also opponents of Colorado's GOP-led plan to undo Colorado's state-run insurance exchange, gather for a rally on the state Capitol steps in Denver, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. The state GOP measure, a bill which would dismantle Connect For Health Colorado within a year, is an indication of how Republicans plan to chip away at Obamacare. If the federal health care law remains unchanged, it would force Coloradans shopping for private insurance to use the federal exchange. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Insurers, regulators seek clarity on ACA’s future

Key players in the U.S. health insurance market told Congress on Wednesday to tread carefully with Obamacare, saying the law hasn't worked as intended but clumsy repeal efforts could made a stressed marketplace even worse. Published February 1, 2017

Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., right, accompanied by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., pauses while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Senate GOP suspends rules, advances Donald Trump picks without Democrats

Republicans who lead a key Senate panel suspended their own rules Wednesday and advanced President Trump's picks to lead the Treasury and Health and Human Services departments unilaterally, saying they had no choice after Democrats boycotted committee votes for a second day in a row. Published February 1, 2017

Steve Mnuchin has seen his confirmation for Treasury Secretary stalled due to tactics led by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and other members of the Democratic Party. (Associated Press)

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

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, center, accompanied by, from left, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.Y. and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaks in the hallway on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, to discuss opposition to Human Services Secretary-designate, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) **FILE**

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

The HealthCare.gov website is still up and running, days after congressional Republicans imposed a deadline to begin their promised Obamacare repeal. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and others listen as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 8, 2016. (Associated Press) **FILE**

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

President Obama had a cadre of appointees who relied on Democratic opposition research to push Trump collusion claims into the public domain. They also leaked sensitive material to news media, some of it grossly misleading, according to a congressional investigative report. (Associated Press/File)

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

Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. listens at right as Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, during his confirmation hearing before the committee. (Associated Press) **FILE**

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