Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
House GOP offers Zika proposal, funds only a third of Obama’s request
House Republicans unveiled a bill Monday that funds only a third of President Obama's request to combat the Zika virus, saying the White House hadn't fully justified its pitch for nearly $2 billion to gird for the mosquito-borne illness. Published May 16, 2016
Supreme Court rejects Obama’s birth control plan, sends case to lower courts
The Supreme Court declined to rule in a closely watched fight over Obamacare's birth control rules Monday and sent the dispute back to the lower courts, saying both sides should be able to reach a compromise that doesn't force religious nonprofits to be involved in contraceptive coverage that violates their beliefs. Published May 16, 2016
Denis McDonough: Allies must carry Obamacare into new phase
The White House brushed aside a growing list of political and legal threats to its signature health care law on Friday, vowing to pass the torch to Obamacare's allies so that Americans can seek taxpayer-subsidized coverage for "generations" to come. Published May 13, 2016
Opioid epidemic funding a sticking point in House
By Friday the House will have passed 18 bills to stake out a bigger federal role in fighting the nationwide opioid epidemic -- but as with so much else in Congress these days, the effort is turning into a spat over money. Published May 12, 2016
Judge rules in favor of House GOP in Obamacare lawsuit
A federal judge dealt President Obama and his health care law a major blow Thursday, ruling in favor of House Republicans who said the administration broke the law and trod on Congress' fundamental powers by paying Obamacare insurers without permission from Capitol Hill. Published May 12, 2016
Nancy Pelosi: Emerging Senate deal on Zika money is ‘completely inadequate’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday an emerging Senate deal to partially fund President Obama's $1.9 billion request to fight the Zika virus is "completely inadequate." Published May 12, 2016
Donald Trump, congressional Republicans share common ground in repealing Obamacare
Congressional Republicans have a lot of questions about how their agenda will square with that of presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, but they say one area where they and the billionaire businessman are on the same page when it comes to repealing and replacing Obamacare. Published May 11, 2016
Zika funding deal close in Senate
Sen. Roy Blunt said negotiators are nearing a deal that would partially fund President Obama's $1.9 billion request for emergency spending to combat the Zika virus at home and abroad. Published May 11, 2016
Senate nears deal for funding for Zika fight
Sen. Roy Blunt said negotiators are nearing a deal that would partially fund President Obama's $1.9 billion request for emergency spending to combat the Zika virus at home and abroad. Published May 11, 2016
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
