Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
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
House to vote on Cornyn gun measure next week
The House has scheduled a vote next week on a bill to stop suspected terrorists from buying firearms from gun dealers as part of a new anti-terrorism package. Published July 1, 2016
Obamacare loses 1.6 million customers after third enrollment period
Obamacare lost 1.6 million customers on its web-based exchanges between the end of open enrollment and March 31, the administration said Thursday in a snapshot of how many customers held on to coverage after the law's third round of signups. Published June 30, 2016
Democrats urge Sen. Richard Shelby to drop Ex-Im blockade
Dozens of Senate Democrats urged Sen. Richard Shelby on Thursday to reconsider his decision to block a nominee to the Export-Import Bank, arguing his blockade is holding back an agency that enjoys majority support from Congress. Published June 30, 2016
Republicans back Obamacare repeal, but divided over replacing it: Poll
Knee-deep in an election year, an increasing share of Republicans want to repeal Obamacare entirely but remain split on whether to replace it with a GOP-favored plan, while Democratic partisans are warming to the law after a presidential primary that put single-payer health care on the table, according to a poll released Thursday. Published June 30, 2016
Harry Reid: ‘We’ve taken a bite out of the NRA,’ confident of gun-control deal this year
Senate Democrats say they are increasingly confident that they will beat the National Rifle Association and force stricter gun control laws in the wake of the Orlando terrorist attack, insisting the tide of public opinion will swing the debate. Published June 30, 2016
Congress approves Puerto Rico debt rescue package
Congress approved a rescue package Wednesday to help Puerto Rico escape a sea of debt, tossing a lifeline to the island territory just two days before it faces default on a $2 billion bond payment. Published June 29, 2016
David Vitter files bill to zero out Obamacare ‘exemption,’ maintains hold on nominee
President Obama's pick to lead the federal personnel office won't get a vote until the Congress cancels its special access to Obamacare health plans, Sen. David Vitter said Wednesday in a rebuke of his colleagues from the chamber floor. Published June 29, 2016
Senate votes to advance Puerto Rico debt bill
A bill to pull Puerto Rico out of a sea of bond debt advanced in the Senate Wednesday, two days before the island territory faces default on a $2 billion payment. Published June 29, 2016
Senate Democrats block Zika funding bill
Senate Democrats blocked a $1.1 billion deal Tuesday that uses Obamacare and Ebola funds to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus, throwing negotiations into disarray even as insects begin to bite on the U.S. mainland. Published June 28, 2016
Zika virus spending package sitting in partisan gridlock
A spending package to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus is mired in partisan gridlock, with Senate Democrats saying Monday they "have no choice" but to sink the $1.1 billion measure because it swipes money from Obamacare and the Ebola fight and bars any of it from flowing to Planned Parenthood. Published June 27, 2016
Supreme Court upholds reach of gun ban for domestic violence convicts
Domestic abusers can be barred from owning guns even if their crimes were misdemeanors resulting from recklessness rather than intentional acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in upholding the broad scope of a 20-year-old federal law. Published June 27, 2016
