Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
HHS: 7.5M Obamacare customers have signed up on HealthCare.gov
Nearly 7.5 million Obamacare customers signed up on HealthCare.gov through Jan. 30, the administration said Wednesday in a weekly enrollment update that provided major metropolitan data for the first time. Published February 4, 2015
David Vitter investigates how Congress became a ‘small business’ under Obamacare
Sen. David Vitter launched an investigation Wednesday into how Congress was "exempted" from Obamacare, saying he could not fathom why thousands of employees on Capitol Hill were allowed to enroll in a D.C. exchange set aside for small businesses. Published February 4, 2015
House votes to repeal, replace Obamacare
The House voted largely along party lines Tuesday to repeal and replace Obamacare, with Republicans vowing to satisfy midterm voters who demanded a new path forward while Democrats taunted their rivals as oblivious to the plight of the uninsured. Published February 3, 2015
Jason Chaffetz will give Jon Gruber a chance to hand over Obamacare documents
The House's top investigator said Tuesday he hasn't decided whether to reissue a subpoena on Jonathan Gruber, the MIT economics professor and Obamacare adviser whose caught-on-tape remarks about the law and "stupidity of the American voter" played into House Republicans' deepest fears about the overhaul. Published February 3, 2015
Republicans proposing vote on Obamacare alternative
Republicans have vowed to be ready with a replacement for Obamacare if the Supreme Court pokes a hole in the signature law later this summer, and will vote in the House Tuesday to both repeal the law and to give themselves a mandate to find the replacement. Published February 2, 2015
CDC director: Vaccinate your kids against measles, there’s nothing to fear
The nation's top disease fighter pleaded Monday with Americans to vaccinate their children against measles for their own sake and that of others, a response to the outbreak that's been linked to the Disneyland theme park and anti-vaccine movements in some communities. Published February 2, 2015
Orrin Hatch op-ed being used to defend Obamacare in Supreme Court case
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch wants to see the Supreme Court strike a blow at Obamacare this year — but the Utah Republican's own words are being used by the Obama administration in that court case to defend the law. Published January 29, 2015
Republicans to open February with vote to repeal Obamacare
House Republicans will kick off February with a vote to repeal Obamacare, providing new members the chance to put their opposition on the record as the party chips away at the overhaul and devises some reforms of its own. Published January 29, 2015
Obamacare signups hit 9.5 million with month still left to go
About 9.5 million Americans selected Obamacare plans with a month to spare before the Feb. 15 deadline to sign up, meaning the Obama administration likely will far exceed its modest enrollment goals for the law's health exchanges in 2015. Published January 27, 2015
Obamacare subsidies: Chronic disease fighters tell Supreme Court not to strike down help to states
The American Cancer Society and other anti-disease groups told the Supreme Court Tuesday there is no evidence that Congress wanted to limit Obamacare's subsidies to states with their own health exchanges. Published January 27, 2015
Mike Pence: Obama admin. has approved Indiana’s Medicaid plan
The Obama administration has approved Indiana's twist on Medicaid expansion, Gov. Mike Pence announced Tuesday, casting the reforms as a consumer-driven overhaul to insure up to 350,000 low-income Hoosiers while distancing himself from Obamacare. Published January 27, 2015
HHS outlines shift away from Medicare fee-for-service model
The Obama administration on Monday set a timeline for historic changes in how it compensates doctors, hospitals and other providers under Medicare, shifting from line-item payments for every service rendered to a system that rewards quality. Published January 26, 2015
GOP leaders use ‘60 Minutes’ spotlight to ding Obamacare, but alternative remains elusive
Leaders of the new Republican-majority Congress struggled to outline a GOP replacement to Obamacare late Sunday, even as they vowed to hold repeal votes and bemoaned President Obama's veto power through 2016. Published January 26, 2015
Yemen coup shows Obama lacks Middle East terror strategy, critics say
The Yemeni government's fall to Iran-backed Shiite militants last week is only the latest sign that Tehran is "on the march" and that President Obama needs a battle plan to rout extremists across the Middle East, the administration's critics charged Sunday. Published January 25, 2015
Mike Huckabee inches closer to presidential run
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he won't decide on a presidential bid until spring. But he basically threw his hat in the ring Sunday, shoring up his opposition to Common Core education standards and walking a fine line on immigration as the GOP primary season heats up. Published January 25, 2015
Congressional veterans: ‘American Sniper’ a realistic portrait of sacrifice, war’s toll
Air Force veteran and congressman Adam Kinzinger said Sunday that "American Sniper," the Oscar-nominated film that's packed theaters while reigniting the nation's culture wars, is the most authentic depiction of the Iraq conflict that he's seen. Published January 25, 2015
John McCain: Iran ‘on the march’
Sen. John McCain said Sunday that Iran is "on the march" and that President Obama lacks a strategy to deal with the Islamic republic, ratcheting up a tense standoff between congressional Republicans and the White House. Published January 25, 2015
Denis McDonough calls Netanyahu invite a mistake
The White House sought the high ground Sunday in objecting to House Republicans' decision to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress without President Obama's blessing, saying it is foolhardy to disrupt negotiations with Iran as the Islamic Republic seeks a nuclear weapon. Published January 25, 2015
Bobby Jindal says states must be free to decide gay marriage question
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the Republican leader of one of 14 states that do not perform same-sex marriage, said Sunday he'll defend the right of states to define marriage as they see fit. Published January 25, 2015
Obama: U.S. can’t play ‘whack-a-mole’ by sending troops to Yemen
President Obama held out hope Sunday for a political solution to the burgeoning crisis in Yemen, where Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels have overrun the capital of Sanaa and upset U.S. operations against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a particularly dangerous wing of the Sunni terrorist group. Published January 25, 2015
