Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
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
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
