Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
David Vitter holding up OPM nomination over Obamacare ‘fraud’
Sen. David Vitter said Wednesday he will not lift his hold on President Obama's pick to lead the federal personnel office because the agency continues to let members of Congress use an Obamacare exchange while receiving a generous employer subsidy, an option that regular Americans don't have. Published May 11, 2016
Andy Slavitt misled Congress on Obamacare state health exchange spending, House panel says
A House panel said Tuesday that a top administration health official misled Congress last year by seeming to suggest that the government had already recaptured hundreds of millions of dollars from struggling state exchanges under Obamacare. Published May 10, 2016
Senate Democrats mount third filibuster over Iran add-on to spending bill
The Senate's bid to fund the government next year without hiccups remained stuck in neutral Monday, as Democrats hoping to avoid a difficult vote on Iran dug in and blocked the first of a dozen 2017 spending bills for a third time. Published May 9, 2016
Governors to Congress: Strike a deal on Zika funding now
The nation's governors urged Congress Monday to strike a deal on federal funding to combat the Zika virus, saying Capitol Hill must act before the mosquito-borne virus can reach a "tipping point" that leads to a rapid rate of infection in their states. Published May 9, 2016
Obama admin: Help us design a medical bill people can understand
The Obama administration challenged health care groups, web developers and other innovators Monday to design a medical bill that patients can actually read and understand, saying a patchwork of content and jargon is overwhelming Americans who just want to know what they owe and why. Published May 9, 2016
Obamacare’s expected double-digit rate increases boost Republicans’ repeal efforts
Insurers are preparing for Obamacare customers double-digit rate increases to be announced in coming months, handing Republicans a key talking point as they try to persuade voters to accept a repeal of the 2010 health care law. Published May 8, 2016
Zika fears fuel demand for bug spray as mosquito season looms
Factories are churning out bug spray around the clock as fears of the mosquito-borne Zika virus take hold. Demand has tripled in Brazil, where the virus is already entrenched, and has doubled in the U.S., even though no mosquito-transmitted cases have been recorded in the country. Published May 5, 2016
FDA brings e-cigarettes under federal authority, bans sale to minors
Retailers can no longer sell electronic cigarettes to people under age 18, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday as part of highly anticipated regulations that will rein in the burgeoning industry, stirring up new controversy over the devices. Published May 5, 2016
Fla. Gov. Rick Scott to Congress: Treat Zika threat ‘like a hurricane’
Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged Congress Wednesday to brush partisanship aside and treat the looming Zika virus "like a hurricane," saying his state is depending on resources and specific planning to gird for the mosquito-borne illness linked to serious birth defects and other health problems. Published May 4, 2016
Democrats draw straight line between Puerto Rico debt and Zika virus scare
Congressional Democrats pressured GOP leaders to act on two contentious fronts Wednesday, explicitly tying Puerto Rico's debt crisis to the island's ability to respond to the Zika virus that has infected nearly 600 residents and even caused one man's death. Published May 4, 2016
Obamacare customers overpaid $8M by IRS
The IRS mistakenly overpaid more than $8 million to HealthCare.gov customers and Obamacare users in California, and cheated tens of thousands of others out of nearly $2 million in 2015 because the government relied on incorrect information to figure their taxes, an audit revealed Tuesday. Published May 3, 2016
Congress must do more to fight opioid crisis: poll
Nearly half of Americans say they know someone who's faced addiction to prescription painkillers, and more than 60 percent say the government needs to do more to stop the epidemic of painkiller and heroin abuse that's sweeping the country. Published May 3, 2016
FDA aims anti-smoking campaign at LGBT community, says ‘coming out’ can be trigger
The Food and Drug Administration launched an anti-smoking campaign Monday aimed at the gay and transgender community, saying young adults in this groups are nearly twice as likely than others to use tobacco. Published May 2, 2016
Senate Dems block spending bill over Iran ‘poison pill’
Senate Democrats blocked the first of a dozen spending bills from advancing Thursday, mounting their second filibuster in as many days in protest of a GOP bid to disrupt President Obama's effort to bolster his nuclear deal with Iran. Published April 28, 2016
Sen. John Cornyn: Dems want a ‘blank check’ for Zika
Senate Democrats are seeking a "blank check" to combat the Zika virus, a top Republican charged Thursday, as lawmakers prepared to skip town for a week without settling their quarrel over President Obama's request for nearly $2 billion to resist the mosquito-borne disease. Published April 28, 2016
J. Michael Pearson, Valeant CEO, tells Congress company acquired drugs, hiked prices
The departing CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals told Congress Wednesday his company was too "aggressive" in pursuing drastic price hikes for products it acquired from other drug makers, though his mea culpa did little to assuage lawmakers who said he put Wall Street's expectations over seriously ill patients. Published April 27, 2016
House conservatives: Zika fight must be paid for
If President Obama needs more money to fight the Zika virus, he will have to find it by cutting elsewhere in the federal budget, House conservatives said Wednesday, laying down a marker as Congress increasingly clashes with the administration over spending requests. Published April 27, 2016
Cynthia Lummis to Trump: Use VP pick to balance out personality
GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump should choose a running mate who is serious-minded and understands Congress, a Wyoming congresswoman said Wednesday, arguing the vice president slot would be the ideal place to temper his outsized personality. Published April 27, 2016
Harry Reid: Senate must act this week on Zika virus funding
Congressional GOP leaders said they are still searching for the "right number" in a standoff over funding to combat Zika, brushing aside withering criticism Tuesday from the White House and Senate Democrats who accused Republicans of dithering in the face of a major health crisis. Published April 26, 2016
Zika funding to be put on deficit by Democrats as GOP says no to new spending
House Democrats threw down their marker Monday in the fight over how much money is needed to fight the Zika virus, writing legislation that would fund all of President Obama's $1.9 billion request and tacking it all onto the deficit. Published April 25, 2016
