Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
GOP to Obama: Back our Zika plan if you want Puerto Rico to start aerial spraying
The White House should drop its objections to a $1.1 billion plan to combat the Zika virus if it really wants Puerto Rico to start spraying for disease-carrying mosquitoes, congressional Republicans said Monday. Published July 11, 2016
Steny Hoyer: Federal government can play positive role
Partisan paralysis in Congress is poisoning the other branches of government and quashing the voice of everyday Americans, Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Monday in a speech that argued secret donors, voter restrictions and craftily drawn House districts have cast a dark cloud over Washington. Published July 11, 2016
House easily passes anti-opioids package
The House easily passed a bill to combat the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic Friday after Democrats who'd demanded more funding beat a retreat, saying they would fight for money another day. Published July 8, 2016
Paul Ryan: Don’t let police shootings ‘harden our divisions’
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan told Americans to "defy predictions" and come together in the wake of the Dallas shooting that killed five police officers late Thursday. Published July 8, 2016
CDC, Democrats make last-ditch plea for more Zika money
The Obama administration and Democratic allies made a last-ditch plea for extra Zika funding Thursday, citing its rapid spread in Puerto Rico and the rising tally of U.S. babies born with defects tied to the disease. Published July 7, 2016
Treasury cooked up excuse for Obamacare payments: GOP report
The Obama administration ignored its own advice and forged ahead with Obamacare payments to insurers without permission from Congress, House Republicans said Thursday in a scathing report that says the White House dismissed the Constitution's separation of powers and swiped $7 billion from taxpayers. Published July 7, 2016
CDC urges Puerto Rico to start aerial mosquito spraying, citing ‘rapid’ spread of Zika
The Obama administration late Wednesday said Puerto Rico should begin to spray for mosquitoes, citing multiple studies that show the Zika virus is "spreading rapidly" and could infect thousands of vulnerable residents on the island territory. Published July 6, 2016
Opioid funding bill in doubt as GOP refuses immediate $1 billion
Republicans shot down Democrats' efforts Wednesday to add nearly $1 billion in funding to a bill designed to combat the nationwide opioid epidemic, leaving the fate of the measure in doubt as Democrats regroup and decide whether they can live without the quick cash injection. Published July 6, 2016
Democrats threaten to oppose opioid plan over funding
Democratic negotiators threatened to oppose an emerging plan to address the nation's prescription opioid and heroin epidemic Wednesday after Republicans rebuffed their attempts to add nearly $1 billion to the deal, raising doubts about yet another effort to address a public health crisis in jeopardy. Published July 6, 2016
Justice Dept. signals it will appeal court defeat over Obamacare
The Justice Department formally signaled Wednesday it will appeal a May ruling that said the administration is unlawfully reimbursing insurers under Obamacare. Published July 6, 2016
GOP leaders resist Democratic calls for gun votes
House Republican leaders signaled Tuesday they won't cave to Democratic demands for a vote on "no fly, no buy" gun legislation because it would strip people of their constitutional rights and reward the minority party for waging a boisterous sit-in on the chamber floor. Published July 5, 2016
NIH plans to enlist U.S. Olympic team for Zika study
The National Institutes of Health said Tuesday it plans to monitor Olympic athletes, coaches and staff for exposure to the Zika virus during the Summer Games in Brazil, calling it an "unique opportunity" to study the mosquito-borne outbreak at its epicenter. Published July 5, 2016
Zika funding needed to head off disease, U.S. voters say
As Americans turned out by the millions for barbecues and fireworks for Monday's July 4 festivities, Republicans were hoping that every mosquito bite will make the patriotic revelers think of the Zika virus — and of Democrats. Published July 4, 2016
Donald Trump says no charges for Hillary Clinton in email probe, cites inside sources
Hillary Clinton's sit-down with the FBI snapped the political world to attention over the sleepy July Fourth holiday weekend, with Democrats saying charges are outside "the realm of possibility" and Republicans signaling the same, yet only because they think the Justice Department will not hurt President Obama's handpicked successor. Published July 3, 2016
Tom Perez, Labor secretary, praises Hillary Clinton despite her opposition to Pacific trade deal
Labor Secretary Tom Perez hailed Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton on Sunday even though she opposes the Pacific Rim trade deal that he has championed. Published July 3, 2016
White House ‘strongly condemns’ Islamic State attack in Baghdad
The White House on Sunday strongly condemned an Islamic State attack in Iraq late Saturday that killed more than 100 people. Published July 3, 2016
Sherrod Brown, Ohio senator: Enough about Clinton’s emails, let’s talk about Trump’s suits
Sen. Sherrod Brown said Sunday that he's not worried about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton being indicted over her exclusive use of private email at the State Department. Published July 3, 2016
Corey Lewandoski, ex-Trump aide, defends anti-Clinton ad with six-pointed star
Corey Lewandowski defended Donld Trump's use of an anti-Hillary Clinton graphic that used a six-point star over piles of cash. Published July 3, 2016
Cory Booker, New Jersey senator, on charges against Clinton: ‘That’s just not going to happen’
Cory Booker refused Sunday to even consider what would happen if presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton were indicted over her exclusive use of a private email server at the State Department. Published July 3, 2016
Tom Perez, Labor secretary, defends Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s meeting with Bill Clinton
Labor Secretary Tom Perez is defending Attorney General Loretta Lynch for chatting with former President Bill Clinton as federal authorities probe Hillary Clinton's use of private email at the State Department. Published July 3, 2016