Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s big announcement: I got an iPhone
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that Donald Trump forced him to do what his Senate staff never could -- get a new phone. Published July 26, 2015
Planned Parenthood chief blasts undercover videos from ‘militant’ pro-life wing
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards insisted Sunday that her organization has broken no laws and does not -- "at all" -- profit from the transfer of fetal tissue. Published July 26, 2015
President Obama tells Kenyans success in 21st century requires fair treatment of women
President Obama on Sunday told the people of Kenya that equal treatment of women is a key recipe for success, saying so-called traditions of forced marriage, domestic assault and genital mutilation are "holding you back." Published July 26, 2015
Donald Trump accuses Hillary Clinton of ‘criminal’ activity in email scandal
Republican presidential contenders blasted Hillary Rodham Clinton's use of a private email server Sunday ahead of a possible showdown, saying revelations about classified material in some of the messages vindicates doubts about her trustworthiness. Published July 26, 2015
Ted Cruz goes off on GOP leaders, says Mitch McConnell lied on Ex-Im Bank
Sen. Ted Cruz brazenly tore into his own party's leaders Friday, saying Republican rule in the Senate is hardly different than it was under Democrats, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tried to appease both parties with a compromise on the highway bill. Published July 24, 2015
Nuns, pharmacists take prescription contraception cases to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will have two more opportunities to rule on religious freedom and contraception next term, one case concerning pharmacists and prescription rules, the other an order of nuns and Obamacare. Published July 23, 2015
Marco Rubio files amendment to kill off Ex-Im Bank
Sen. Marco Rubio and a conservative ally filed an amendment Wednesday to affirmatively kill off the federal Export-Import Bank, even as supporters of the lapsed agency plotted to revive it as part of debate on a must-pass highway bill. Published July 23, 2015
Senate drops Social Security changes from highway bill to foster support
Senate negotiators have agreed to remove a Social Security-related provision from a $47 billion highway deal that relies on a patchwork of funding tactics, sweetening the deal for Democrats who've wavered on the six-year bill. Published July 23, 2015
Nuns push Supreme Court to hear Obama birth-control mandate case
Roughly a week after its loss before an appeals court in Denver, a group of nuns who objected to Obamacare's birth-control mandate have taken their case to the Supreme Court. Published July 23, 2015
Mitch McConnell’s new highway bill is already on the skids with Dems and GOP
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's new highway spending bill is already on the skids, with both Democrats and Republicans questioning $47 billion in fees and penalties the legislation counts on to fund new road-building over the next three years. Published July 22, 2015
Senate Democrats block highway bill, want time to read before debate
Senate Democrats blocked a long-awaited highway deal Tuesday, saying they needed time to read the mammoth bill before proceeding. Published July 21, 2015
House GOP blow off flimsy deadline for fast-track Obamacare repeal
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday Republicans will blow past a deadline this week to report ways they could leverage a fast-track budget tool to send an Obamacare repeal bill to the White House. Published July 21, 2015
Senate strikes deal for long-term highway bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a top Democrat said Tuesday they've struck a deal to fund road projects for years to come, cuing up a fast-moving debate ahead of a July 31 deadline to infuse cash into the nation's highway trust fund. Published July 21, 2015
Obamacare fraudulent claims cost government $2 billion
More than 700,000 Obamacare customers claimed tax credits for buying health care but didn't bother to file their taxes, potentially jilting the government out of $2 billion in bogus payments, the Senate's senior lawmaker said Monday. Published July 20, 2015
Ted Cruz takes aim at Congress’ Obamacare ‘exemption’
Sen. Ted Cruz, a vocal conservative running for president, will push to expose and prevent fellow members of Congress from "exempting" themselves from Obamacare this week, adding sparks to an already-fraught debate over a highway bill that needs to pass by July 31. Published July 20, 2015
John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy lose Republican favor over recent Supreme Court rulings
Republicans are fed up with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, giving them terrible marks in a new poll that captures just how disappointed the GOP faithful is with the Supreme Court after several major rulings last month. Published July 19, 2015
John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy hit sour notes with GOP after Supreme Court rulings: poll
Supreme Court justices John G. Roberts Jr. and Anthony Kennedy are more likely to get a thumbs-up from Democrats than Republicans even though they were appointed by GOP presidents, according to polling that reflects the fallout from two major decisions in the latest term. Published July 17, 2015
Senate passes rewrite of No Child Left Behind
Both chambers of Congress have now voted to scrap much of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education plan, meaning the government will continue to ship billions of dollars to states, but will cut or loosen many of the strings attached to the funding. Published July 16, 2015
Ron Wyden: No actual fraud in Obamacare fake-enrollee study
An undercover operation that snuck nearly a dozen fake Obamacare enrollees into taxpayer-subsidized plans is proof the administration will pad the law's numbers at any cost, Republicans charged Thursday, although a top Democrat argued the stark findings didn't amount to real fraud. Published July 16, 2015
House passes short-term highway fix; Congress’ plans still in flux before July 31 deadline
The House approved $8 billion in highway funding Wednesday to keep projects moving through December and buy enough time to negotiate the six-year roads bill that both parties actually want. Published July 15, 2015
