Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Obama officials plug Obamacare successes
The administration, seeking to boost confidence in Obamacare after a top insurer said it might exit the program within two years, is highlighting health plans that say they're "doing fine" in the emerging marketplace. Published November 22, 2015
Marco Rubio, Florida senator, says Sunni Arabs with a few U.S. special forces must defeat IS
Marco Rubio said Sunday that the only way to defeat the Islamic State is to deploy a ground force of Sunni Arabs aided by a limited number of U.S. special operators. Published November 22, 2015
Ben Carson, GOP presidential candidate, coy on water-boarding, doesn’t want to tip his hand
Ben Carson declined to say Sunday whether he would bring back waterboarding as part of the fight against terrorism, saying it's never a good idea to let the enemy know what you're going to do. Published November 22, 2015
Donald Trump, Republican presidential front-runner, evasive about GOP pledge
Donald Trump hinted Sunday that he is willing to retreat from a pledge he signed in September to support the Republican nominee and forgo an independent run if he fails to grab the 2016 nomination. Published November 22, 2015
Jeh Johnson, Homeland Security chief, says no credible terrorist threat to U.S.
The nation's top homeland security official said Sunday there are no credible threats of a Paris-style attack on U.S. soil, despite rumors that the Islamic State or other extremists could attack the country. Published November 22, 2015
Chris Christie, New Jersey governor, says he stands alone in GOP race in fighting terrorism
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday reiterated his opposition to resettling thousands of Syrian refugees in the U.S., arguing that he is the only one in the 2016 GOP presidential race with on-the-ground experience in fighting terrorism. Published November 22, 2015
HHS says pricey prescription drugs are out of reach for many Americans
President Obama's top health official kicked off a summit on drug prices Friday by praising the pharmaceutical industry's knack for innovation while sounding the alarm over prescription prices that put new treatments out of reach for too many Americans. Published November 20, 2015
UnitedHealth Group, nation’s largest insurer, may drop out of Obamacare, citing losses
The nation's largest insurer said Thursday it may drop out of Obamacare's exchanges within two years, adding to a particularly gloomy outlook for the law as it enters its third year of full operation with customers facing rising premiums and the collapse of most nonprofit co-ops. Published November 19, 2015
Ron Wyden checks in on Obamacare innovation program
A leading Democratic senator asked the administration Thursday to update him on its efforts to implement a piece of Obamacare that allows states to waive parts of the law in 2017 if they find ways to outdo the federal health law in terms of the affordability and quality of coverage and how many people get insured. Published November 19, 2015
Congress brings back regular order with bicameral, bipartisan conferences
Congressional negotiators met Wednesday to hash out a long-term transportation bill and rewrite the No Child Left Behind education law, pledging to pin down two bipartisan goals as Capitol Hill seeks a return to the legislative ideal known as regular order. Published November 18, 2015
More than 1M have selected plans on Obamacare website
More than 1 million people selected health coverage on the federal Obamacare website through the second week of open enrollment, the administration said Wednesday in a snapshot that shows the number of plan selections nearly doubling since the first week's tally. Published November 18, 2015
House, Senate negotiators set to work on highway bill
House and Senate negotiators sat down Wednesday and pledged to hammer out their first multi-year highway bill in a decade, saying stopgap measures are failing motorists and businesses who contend with America's crumbling roads and infrastructure. Published November 18, 2015
Republican efforts to overturn Obamacare stalls in Senate
The GOP's long-sought bid to dismantle Obamacare has hit another snag in the Senate, flustering House Republicans who thought they'd figured out a way to get a bill to President Obama's desk without having to face a Democratic filibuster. Published November 17, 2015
Virginia slated to spend $1 billion more on Medicaid
Virginia faces a $1 billion increase in Medicaid spending through fiscal 2018, according to a two-year forecast Tuesday that state Republicans swiftly used as a cudgel against Gov. Terry McAuliffe's bid to expand the program under Obamacare. Published November 17, 2015
Capitol Police ask lawmakers to be on high alert after Paris attacks
The Capitol Police asked congressional offices Monday to "remain vigilant" in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris that killed 129 people, saying the complex will "always be an appealing target" although there is no known threat to the building. Published November 16, 2015
Obamacare co-op flops have many scrambling for health insurance
When Amy Grech, a freelance Web consultant and horror story author in New York, was looking for health insurance, a broker pushed her toward Health Republic, the state's co-op under Obamacare. It had the doctors she needed, and the price seemed right. Published November 15, 2015
500K picked plans in Obamacare’s first week
More than a half-million people selected a health plan through the federal Obamacare website during the first week of open enrollment, according to a government update Thursday that said two-thirds of the customers were renewing coverage they already had. Published November 12, 2015
HealthCare.gov alert gives rare nod to Obamacare penalty
The administration is warning HealthCare.gov customers to make sure they log onto the Obamacare website and get covered so they don't face a stiff penalty for lacking health insurance next year. Published November 12, 2015
Pro-life group takes Planned Parenthood fight to Times Square
As Senate Republicans face a murky path toward defunding Planned Parenthood, a pro-life group is taking the fight to the bright lights of Manhattan, renting out ad space in Times Square to go after the women's health group. Published November 12, 2015
Senate moves to negotiate final roads bill
The Senate voted Tuesday to sit down with House negotiators and polish off Congress' first long-term highway bill in a decade. Published November 10, 2015
