Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Health spending rose 3.6 percent in 2013
Health spending grew by 3.6 percent last year, the lowest mark recorded in the last half-century as modest growth tracks with an economy that's still recovering from the recession, the Obama administration said Wednesday. Published December 3, 2014
Obamacare enrollment at 765K after Week 2
About 765,000 people have chosen a private health plan on the federal Obamacare marketplace since year-two enrollment began on Nov. 15, the Obama administration reported Wednesday. Published December 3, 2014
Defense bill authorizes WWI memorial at park near White House
A national defense bill released late Tuesday designated Pershing Park in downtown Washington as a national World War I memorial, putting an official stamp on the contentious debate over how and where to recognize the Great War and put it on par with other 20th century conflicts memorialized in the capital. Published December 3, 2014
Obamacare infighting looms for Republican senators over coverage for staffers
When Republicans take control of the Senate next month, their first Obamacare fight may actually be with themselves, in a clash testing just how far to go in forcing lawmakers and their staff to live under the law. Published December 2, 2014
Obama presses Congress to approve Ebola funding request
President Obama on Tuesday hailed U.S. efforts to develop a vaccine for Ebola and pleaded with Congress to pass his $6.2 billion request to combat the virus at home and abroad, warning that while efforts in the West African hot zone have shown progress, the fight is “not even close to being over.” Published December 2, 2014
White House on Ebola preparation: ‘Tremendous progress’ as more hospitals equipped to handle virus
The Obama administration boasted Tuesday it has made "tremendous progress" in the fight against Ebola since the first U.S. case landed in Dallas about two months ago, dramatically increasing the number of hospitals and labs to treat patients and test for the deadly virus that has killed about 5,000 in West Africa. Published December 2, 2014
Obama health reforms saved 50,000 lives from 2010 to 2013, Obama team insists
The Obama administration said Tuesday that medical conditions acquired at U.S. hospitals declined by 9 percent from 2012 to 2013 for an "unprecedented" three-year drop of 17 percent. Published December 2, 2014
Ebola: CDC throws cold water on talk of ‘airborne’ transmission
Hoping to tamp down fears about Ebola's spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday the virus wreaking havoc in West Africa is unlikely to mutate and go airborne. Published December 1, 2014
Obama enters Ferguson fray, plans meetings on police tactics in minority communities
The Missouri police officer at the heart of a racial controversy roiling the nation decided to resign because of threats against the Ferguson Police Department and its officers, his attorney said Sunday, hours before the White House announced President Obama would enter the raging debates prompted by the Ferguson shooting with a series of White House events. Published November 30, 2014
Tom Cotton: Obama putting U.S. jobs in peril through immigration action
Sen.-elect Tom Cotton said Sunday that President Obama's executive amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants shows he did not get the memo after sweeping losses in the midterm contests. Published November 30, 2014
Gov. Deval Patrick: Obama faces balancing test amid Ferguson furor
Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Sunday that President Obama probably wants to visit Ferguson, Missouri, and comfort the family of Michael Brown, but his hands are tied because the Justice Department is steeped in a civil rights probe of the incident. Published November 30, 2014
Attorney for Darren Wilson says officer resigned because of threats to Ferguson PD
Darren Wilson decided to resign from the Ferguson, Missouri, police force after he learned of threats against the department and its officers, his attorney said Sunday. Published November 30, 2014
HHS: More than 450K chose plan on HealthCare.gov in first week
The Health and Human Services Department said Wednesday that 462,000 people selected a health plan through the Obamacare exchanges during the first week of open enrollment, and that roughly half were customers renewing existing plans. Published November 26, 2014
Ebola monitoring of D.C resident ends just in time for Thanksgiving
D.C. resident Brett Sedgewick had been to Liberia and flown back to Washington Dulles International Airport before, but when he returned earlier this month the digital printout of his passport scan had a big "X" on it. Published November 25, 2014
Jonathan Gruber, Obamacare ‘architect,’ agrees to testify before Congress
Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economics professor and key Obamacare adviser, has agreed to testify before the House oversight committee next month after critics unearthed a string of YouTube videos that depict him saying the "stupidity" of the American voter and legislative sleight of hand helped the contentious law make it through Congress. Published November 25, 2014
FDA rolls out calorie-count rules for menus, vending machines
The FDA unveiled new Obamacare regulations Tuesday that require chain restaurants and some vending machine operators to post calorie counts for the foods they sell. Published November 25, 2014
Sylvia Mathews Burwell: Obamacare challenge before Supreme Court won’t succeed
President Obama's top health official said Monday the health care law will overcome a Supreme Court challenge that argues the administration is illegally doling out subsidies to about two-thirds of the states. Published November 24, 2014
Lamar Alexander: Anti-discrimination board undermining own mission
A government commission that probes workplace discrimination is chasing shaky legal cases that result in embarrassing and costly losses, a Republican senator charged Monday in a report that says the body has underperformed of late compared to the Bush era. Published November 24, 2014
John Boehner files long-awaited lawsuit over Obamacare
House Speaker John A. Boehner filed a long-awaited lawsuit Friday that alleges President Obama took unlawful steps to delay part of his health care law and is paying out funds to insurers without congressional approval. Published November 21, 2014
Darrell Issa calls on Obamacare players to testify about ‘deceptions’
The House's top investigator is calling on key Obamacare players to testify on Capitol Hill about the "deceptions" that surround the law's creation and enrollment reports. Published November 21, 2014
