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Tom Howell Jr.

Tom Howell Jr.

Tom Howell Jr. covers politics and the White House for The Washington Times. He can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif. walks out of nomination vote meeting after dropping out of the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. In a stunning move, McCarthy withdrew his candidacy for House speaker Thursday, throwing Congress' Republican leadership into chaos.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Kevin McCarthy, House majority leader, pulling out of race for House speaker

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly ended his bid Thursday to be the next House speaker, shocking GOP colleagues who walked into a noon meeting expecting to coronate him as their pick, and instead walked out amid chaos, leaving the party rudderless as it stumbles toward a series of major policy showdowns. Published October 8, 2015

In this photo July 29, 2015, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Just days into his long-shot bid for speaker of the House, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah is already butting heads with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. At issue is whether or not he’s ever invited her out for burgers. The two lawmakers share a birthday: March 26 (Pelosi was born on that date in 1940, Chaffetz in 1967). (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Nancy Pelosi has no sympathy ‘at all’ for leaders in fractured GOP

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she has no sympathy "at all" for Republican leaders who've dealt with a fractious caucus and must navigate a messy race to replace Speaker John A. Boehner, who decided to resign rather contend with the divisions any longer. Published October 8, 2015

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, leaves the House Chamber at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 27, 2015. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Steny Hoyer: Up to GOP caucus to decide next speaker

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Tuesday it will be up to the Republican majority to decide who replaces departing Speaker John A. Boehner this month, downplaying what role, if any, Democrats will play if his likely successor cannot rally majority support from the chamber. Published October 6, 2015

House Committee on the Budget Chairman Tom Price, Georgia Republican (Associated Press) **FILE**

House budget-minders tee up moves to dismantle Obamacare

House Republicans announced Friday they will forge ahead next week with efforts to dismantle Obamacare through a fast-track budget process, wasting little time after three panels recommended ways to repeal the 2010 law's most unpopular mandates, taxes and regulations. Published October 2, 2015

Rep. Edward R. Royce, California Republican (Associated Press) **FILE**

House votes to delay Iran sanctions relief until terror victims get paid

Taking the first steps to try to scuttle the Iran nuclear agreement, the House approved a bill Thursday that would block President Obama from lifting sanctions on Tehran until the regime makes billions of dollars in court-ordered payments to American victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Published October 1, 2015

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif. leaves a procedural vote and debate in the House on a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown on Sept. 30, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. A temporary funding measure aiming to keep the government open past a midnight deadline sailed through the Senate on Wednesday and was expected to make its way shortly through a divided House and on to President Barack Obama. (Associated Press)

House passes funding bill, averting government shutdown

The House approved a stopgap spending bill Wednesday to fund federal operations for 10 more weeks, clearing the bill for President Obama's signature with several hours to spare before a midnight deadline to keep the government open. Published September 30, 2015

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, answers questions during an interview with The Associated Press in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 9, 2015. (Associated Press) **FILE**

House panel votes to scrap Obamacare mandates

The House Ways and Means Committee moved Tuesday to chip away at Obamacare by using a fast-track budget tool to repeal the law's most unpopular taxes and provisions, including the mandate requiring Americans to hold insurance. Published September 29, 2015

Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican (Associated Press) **FILE**

Senate advances bill to avert gov’t shutdown; Ted Cruz decries ‘surrender’

The Senate took a major step Monday toward keeping the government open and funded beyond this week, staving off hard-line conservatives' push to threaten a government shutdown over funding for Planned Parenthood, as House GOP leaders settled on a new strategy to force the pro-life issue onto President Obama's desk. Published September 28, 2015

The Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (Associated Press)

House GOP freshmen, top Democrat Steny Hoyer seek offramp from looming shutdown

Nearly a dozen freshmen Republicans pushed their party colleagues not to pursue hard-line tactics that risk yet another federal shutdown, while a top Democrat said Wednesday his party will not "burn down the House," as congressional factions jockeyed to meet next week's deadline to fund the government. Published September 23, 2015