Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Faith charities eye Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in Obamacare birth control fight
When faith-based charities come to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, they will once again be aiming their arguments squarely at Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, hoping to convince him that they deserve the same carve-out from Obamacare's birth control rules that actual houses of worship enjoy. Published March 21, 2016
Harry Reid, Senate minority leader: GOP senators will buck leadership on Supreme Court pick
Harry Reid on Sunday predicted a "breakthrough" in the fight over President Obama's pick to replace late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Published March 20, 2016
Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator, looking to West Coast for ‘path forward’
Democratic presidential contender Bernard Sanders is banking on a groundswell of support on the West Coast, which he described as the "most progressive part of America." Published March 20, 2016
Reince Priebus, RNC chairman: ‘Can’t imagine’ nominee wouldn’t be Trump, Cruz or Kasich
Reince Priebus said Sunday he would be surprised if the GOP's eventual pick for president is not someone named Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or John Kasich, though he wasn't able to rule out an 11th-hour nominee. Published March 20, 2016
John Kasich, Ohio governor: No one is going to have enough delegates
John Kasich said Sunday he is ready to take his presidential candidacy all the way to the Republican convention this summer. Published March 20, 2016
Mitch McConnell, Senate Reublican leader: No lame-duck vote on Obama’s Supreme Court pick
Mitch McConnell broke with members of his caucus Sunday by ruling out a potential vote on President Obama's pick to replace late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Published March 20, 2016
Hillary Clinton to Congress: Approve Obama’s $1.9B Zika request now
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton told Congress Friday to swiftly approve President Obama's $1.9 billion request to fight the Zika virus at home and abroad, saying the outbreak linked to serious birth defects is "real," "dangerous" and threatening U.S. shores. Published March 18, 2016
WHO: Sierra Leone is Ebola-free again
The World Health Organization on Thursday said Sierra Leone is Ebola-free once again, after a mid-January flareup spoiled West Africa's efforts to stamp out the two-year outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people. Published March 17, 2016
Rick Snyder, Michigan governor, faults state agency for Flint water debacle
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder told Congress on Thursday that failures at one of his own agencies allowed lead-tainted water to flow to thousands of residents in the city of Flint. Published March 17, 2016
House GOP forges ahead with budget amid party revolt
The House Budget Committee approved a 10-year spending plan Wednesday that might still be doomed, as Republican leaders who raved about its policy goals still face objections from rank-and-file conservatives who oppose spending levels the parties agreed to last fall. Published March 16, 2016
Chris Van Hollen on GOP budget: We’re not running out the door
Rep. Chris Van Hollen blasted a House GOP-authored budget Wednesday and then tried to take the high road, saying Democrats will at least go through the motions of marking up a fiscal blueprint after Republicans ignored President Obama's proposal. Published March 16, 2016
Ben Sasse: Obamacare has fewer insurer options in 2016
Obamacare customers in nearly two thirds of U.S. counties had three or fewer insurers to choose from in 2016, a GOP senator said Monday in an office report that argues President Obama oversold his signature law as a catalyst for competition. Published March 14, 2016
Senate Democrats unveil legislation to rescue Puerto Rico from debt
Senate Democrats said Monday they've crafted a legislative package that offers Puerto Rico a "real path to solvency," as the U.S. territory struggles to tread water amid a sea of red ink. Published March 14, 2016
FDA gives preliminary approval to anti-Zika trial in Florida
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday tentatively approved a British company's request to release its genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys, a trial aimed at slashing the number of insects that carry Zika virus. Published March 11, 2016
HHS awards $94 million to combat opioid crisis
The Obama administration awarded $94 million in Obamacare money Friday to health centers on the front lines of the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic, one day after Democrats complained that a Senate-passed bill to combat the crisis lacked necessary funding. Published March 11, 2016
Obamacare failed co-ops haven’t repaid any of $1.2B in taxpayer loans: GOP
Obamacare's failed co-ops have not repaid a single dollar of the combined $1.2 billion they received in federal startup loans, Senate Republicans said Thursday in a report that argues taxpayers will never be made whole. Published March 10, 2016
Senate easily passes bill to fight opioid, heroin epidemic
The Senate easily passed legislation Wednesday to combat the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic that is killing dozens of Americans each day, despite Democratic complaints that Congress hasn't provided enough funding to tackle the problem. Published March 10, 2016
‘Motor-voter’ registration laws pitted against citizenship IDs in court case
A federal official overstepped his authority by allowing three states to demand proof of citizenship on the national "motor-voter" forms that help many Americans register to vote, the Obama administration and allied groups argued Wednesday in a case that pits one part of the federal government against another. Published March 9, 2016
Obama administration proposes new drug payment model
The Obama administration says it might overhaul how it pays doctors and hospitals for drugs they administer under Medicare Part B, arguing the reforms are needed to put patients before dollars and cents. Published March 8, 2016
McConnell backs Speaker Ryan’s outreach to GOP contenders
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he hasn't reached out to the leading GOP candidates for president, though he still plans to support whoever wins the topsy-turvy race. Published March 8, 2016