Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Congress explores fiscal control board for Puerto Rico
House members and financial experts said Tuesday a "team of neutrals" is needed to oversee Puerto Rico's budget and get its fiscal house in order, as the island scrambles to pay its debts and stave off drastic service cuts to its 3.5 million residents. Published February 2, 2016
Obamacare enrollment sets record with younger, healthier customers
The administration declared victory for Obamacare on Monday, saying the third year of sign-ups on the health care exchanges went smoothly and set an enrollment record, with customers younger and healthier than they have been in the past. Published February 1, 2016
Zika virus: Congress pushes Obama administration for answers
Congress asked the Obama administration Monday if it is doing enough to understand and combat the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne agent that is threatening the U.S. from Latin America and has been linked to a serious birth defect. Published February 1, 2016
Kevin McCarthy says he isn’t sweating 2016 race
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy refused to say Monday what an anti-establishment nominee for president would mean for Republicans hoping to hold their majorities in Congress, insisting that the GOP is poised for a good year no matter who leads them into November. Published February 1, 2016
Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, touts Iowa support: We’re going to surprise people
Rand Paul insisted Sunday that his support in Iowa for the GOP presidential nomination is larger than many people realize. Published January 31, 2016
Rubio eyes long GOP nominating race, heaps pressure on Cruz to perform well in Iowa
Marco Rubio said Sunday he feels good about his prospects in Iowa's Republican caucuses but already is looking ahead to primary prizes down the road. Published January 31, 2016
Donald Trump, for once, eyes victory for someone else — Peyton Manning
Donald Trump predicted victory next Sunday for future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Published January 31, 2016
Hillary Clinton: Release my emails from State, I have nothing to hide
Hillary Clinton said Sunday she has nothing to hide in messages that have been deemed "top secret" and will be withheld from the public. Published January 31, 2016
Donald Trump, GOP presidential candidate, disavows single payer health care and Clinton ties
Donald Trump tried Sunday to fend off critics who say he has been too cozy with Democrats and their causes. Published January 31, 2016
Sen. Bernie Sanders, underdog Democrat, predicts historic upset in Iowa caucuses
Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders said Sunday that America will see one of the biggest political upsets in U.S. history when Iowa voters make their Democratic pick for president in Monday's caucuses. Published January 31, 2016
Donald Trump: Supreme Court should have left gay marriage to the states
Donald Trump said Sunday he wished the U.S. Supreme Court had left the issue of gay marriage to the states instead of making it legal across the board in its landmark ruling last year. Published January 31, 2016
Ted Cruz, GOP presidential candidate: I’m the only consistent conservative in this race
Ted Cruz said Sunday he is poised to win the Iowa caucuses so long as conservatives and "Reagan Democrats" cancel out intra-party attacks against him. Published January 31, 2016
Brazil moves to wipe out mosquitoes to stem Zika virus
The Brazilian government moved Friday to attack mosquito hot spots in federal buildings across the country, part of its effort to "declare war" on insects that are carrying the Zika virus across Latin America. Published January 29, 2016
Supreme Court sets date for birth-control mandate showdown
A charity of nuns and other religious nonprofits who contested Obamacare's birth control rules will plead their case to the Supreme Court on March 23. Published January 29, 2016
Obamacare not a top issue for voters: poll
Obamacare places pretty far down the list of concerns for Americans, according to a survey, underscoring President Obama's difficulty with just three days left to apply for coverage to get the public to buy into his health care law. Published January 28, 2016
Zika virus: WHO convenes emergency session
The World Health Organization said Thursday it will convene an emergency session to fight the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that is "spreading explosively" in the Americas and has been tied to birth defects and other serious health problems, although the link is murky. Published January 28, 2016
HealthCare.gov signups creep to nearly 9M
Nearly 9 million people selected a plan on HealthCare.gov ahead of Obamacare's last week of signups, the Obama administration said Wednesday, inching the program closer to a downgraded enrollment target of 13 million customers in 2016. Published January 27, 2016
Senators pledge to fight painkiller, heroin epidemic
A bipartisan group of senators urged Congress on Wednesday to attack the epidemic of heroin and painkiller abuse that is afflicting every state, saying a holistic approach is needed to block reckless prescribing, dispose of excess pills and equip first responders with a drug that can reverse overdoses. Published January 27, 2016
WWI commission announces winning design for D.C. memorial
A national memorial to "The Great War" will feature three main sections for recreation and reflection and preserve parts of the District of Columbia park that now sits there, the World War I Centennial Commission said Tuesday as it kicked off an ambitious scramble to fund and construct the tribute before the 100th anniversary of the war's end. Published January 26, 2016
Russ Feingold, Maggie Hassan among Democrats’ key recruits in bid to reclaim Senate
Democrats nabbed nearly all of the recruits they wanted as they launched a push to retake the Senate, but few of the candidates are battle-tested and the party must paddle through distracting primaries before they gun for two dozen Republican seats in play in November. Published January 25, 2016
