Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Obama look to avoid next showdown
House and Senate Republican leaders have kicked off budget talks with President Obama as Congress searches for ways to get out of yet another shutdown showdown jam later this year. Published September 29, 2015
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
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
House plans to use fast-track budget tool to attack Obamacare, Planned Parenthood
Republicans in charge of top House committees want to use a fast-track budget tool to take a big bite out of Obamacare and redirect funding away from Planned Parenthood amid controversy over its abortion practice. Published September 28, 2015
GOP bid to avoid shutdown nixed by Senate Dems to save Planned Parenthood funding
A bid by Republican Senate leaders to strip funding from Planned Parenthood failed Thursday when eight Republicans joined Democrats to filibuster the move, dooming conservatives' hopes of forcing a shutdown showdown with President Obama over the fate of the abortion provider. Published September 24, 2015
Ted Cruz on gov’t shutdown: Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid are ‘de facto’ leaders of Congress
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz cued up the GOP's opening bid Thursday to avert a government shutdown by accusing his own party's leaders of surrendering before the fight, saying they've allowed President Obama and his Democratic allies to pull the strings in Washington despite a "tidal wave" of Republican success in the 2014 midterms. Published September 24, 2015
Pope Francis reflects before statue of Saint Junipero Serra
Moments after his speech to Congress, Pope Francis paused for reflection before a bronze statue of the first saint canonized on U.S. soil. Published September 24, 2015
Pope Francis pays surprise visit to nuns suing Obama over birth control rules
Pope Francis made an unscheduled visit to a convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order that is suing the Obama administration over its birth control rules on employers. Published September 24, 2015
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
Planned Parenthood funding vote sets up government shutdown showdown
Senate Republicans set up a vote Thursday to withhold some money from Planned Parenthood as part of a deal to keep the government funded beyond the end of this month, cuing an abortion-tinged shutdown showdown just hours after Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress. Published September 22, 2015
Senate GOP unveils measure to fund government through Dec. 11
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he will push a short-term spending bill that funds the government through Dec. 11 and redirects Planned Parenthood funding to other health centers amid controversy over the organization's abortion practice. Published September 22, 2015
Obamacare website contractor paid $4M to fix own mistakes: audit
The Obama administration paid $4 million to a leading HealthCare.gov contractor to fix some of its own errors on the balky website, according to an audit Tuesday that says the government held back only a small portion of payments to the company that was ultimately dropped from the project. Published September 22, 2015
HHS: Number insured under Obamacare swells to 17.6 million
Roughly 17.6 million Americans are now insured because of Obamacare, the administration said Tuesday in a preview of the upcoming enrollment period that toggled between celebrating success and admitting the challenges that lie ahead in rooting out the remaining uninsured. Published September 22, 2015
With Scott Walker out, Bobby Jindal campaign says it stands alone on replacing Obamacare
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says he is the only 2016 GOP contender for president who has a real plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, now that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has dropped out. Published September 22, 2015
Pope Francis’ address to Congress poses quandary for lawmakers over lone guest ticket
Presented with the difficult decision of whom to offer his only guest ticket for Pope Francis' historic address to a joint session of Congress, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez said he was moved by "the spirit." Published September 20, 2015
Paul Gosar of Arizona to skip Pope Francis speech, fearing talk of climate change
An Arizona congressman who decided not to attend Pope Francis' address to Congress on Thursday says he is boycotting because he thinks the pontiff will focus on climate change instead of religious tolerance and the sanctity of life. Published September 18, 2015
Court sides with faith-based groups on Obamacare birth control mandate
A federal appeals court Thursday ruled in favor of faith-based nonprofits who fought Obamacare's birth control rules, dealing an elusive victory to religious employers who now have a stronger hand in urging the Supreme Court to shield them from the administration's "contraception mandate." Published September 17, 2015
Susan Collins praised by Senate for 6,000 straight votes
Senate leaders recognized Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on Thursday for her perfect attendance record, casting 6,000 consecutive votes without missing a single one during her 18-year tenure. Published September 17, 2015
Senate Dems rebuff GOP attempt to link Iran sanctions with Israel, U.S. prisoners
Senate Democrats blocked last-ditch GOP bids Thursday to upend President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, forcing Republicans to move on to other fights as both sides looked to ensure Tehran's compliance with the pact down the road. Published September 17, 2015
Senate Democrats to GOP: Too risky to bring U.S. prisoners into the Iran debate
Senate Democrats chided GOP leaders Wednesday for bringing U.S. prisoners in Iran into the debate over President Obama's contentious nuclear deal with the regime in Tehran, saying Republicans were playing politics with anguished families and could imperil delicate negotiations to free the four men. Published September 16, 2015
