Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Denis McDonough repeats U.S. refusal to negotiate hostages with Islamic State
The U.S. will not pay ransoms or swap prisoners to satisfy the Islamic State and spring hostages from their grip in Iraq and Syria, President Obama's chief of staff said Sunday, as Japan mourned the apparent beheading of one of its citizens at the hands of the terrorist group. Published January 25, 2015
Opioid use startlingly high among reproductive-age women: CDC
A startling number of women are taking opioid painkillers during their child-bearing years, according to a new study that warns of pregnancy complications and birth defects. Published January 22, 2015
House votes to ban taxpayer-funded abortions
While tens of thousands of pro-life marchers teemed the streets outside the Capitol, the House voted Thursday to cement a ban on taxpayer funding for abortions under Obamacare. Published January 22, 2015
Bobby Jindal blasts GOP’s retreat on 20-week abortion ban
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal blasted House Republican leaders Thursday for pulling a bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, boasting he shepherded an identical law in his state. Published January 22, 2015
Obamacare website enrollment crests 7M as Feb. 15 deadline looms
Enrollment on the federal Obamacare exchange has reached 7.1 million, the Obama administration said Wednesday in a weekly report that warned last-minute shoppers to log onto HealthCare.gov before it's too late. Published January 21, 2015
House Democrats launch bid to revive base after humbling midterms
Reeling from midterm elections that left them with a weak hand, House Democrats unveiled a task force Wednesday aimed at driving minorities and the rest of its base back to the polls. Published January 21, 2015
Obamacare plays a bit role in State of the Union, even as it looms large in GOP agenda
This time, President Obama got his signature domestic achievement out of the way early. Published January 20, 2015
Ron Johnson hopes for a better outcome in round two of Obamacare lawsuit
Sen. Ron Johnson is hoping a federal appeals court will breathe new life into his lawsuit over how Congress is treated under Obamacare. Published January 20, 2015
Admin played favorites with contracting for faulty Obamacare website: report
The agency in charge of Obamacare didn't strategize wisely or look beyond existing government contractors before they doled out 60 contracts to build out HealthCare.gov, according to an inspector general's report Tuesday that sheds light on a federal project that stumbled out of the gate in fall 2013. Published January 20, 2015
Sen. Orrin Hatch eyes every tool to take down Obamacare
Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch vowed Tuesday to chip away at Obamacare, "piece by piece," saying he hasn't ruled out the use of a powerful, yet complex, budget process to seriously dent the law. Published January 20, 2015
Ben Sasse honors Ebola doctor with State of the Union invite
A freshman senator will honor the doctors and nurses on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak by welcoming one of them as his guest Tuesday night at the State of the Union Address. Published January 20, 2015
Pro-Obamacare group maps out next phase of health care reform
A pro-Obamacare group released a roadmap Monday for the next wave of health reform, from expanding Medicaid in every state to extending dental coverage to all — presenting a progressive counterpoint to Republican lawmakers who want to replace the overhaul with market-driven reforms. Published January 19, 2015
CVS’ tobacco decision is paying off in more ways than one
CVS pharmacy's decision last year to pull tobacco from its 7,800 stores is paying off, business-wise, and now it's earned the chain's CEO a prime seat at Tuesday's State of the Union Address. Published January 19, 2015
Obamacare penalty may come as shock at tax time
Those Americans who didn't get health insurance last year could be in for a rude awakening when the IRS asks them to fork over their Obamacare penalty — and it could be a lot more than the $95 many of them may be expecting. Published January 18, 2015
Marilyn Tavenner, Medicare chief, steps down; took part health care rollout
Marilyn Tavenner, a key administration official who oversaw the wobbly rollout of Obamacare, announced Friday she will step down at the end of February. Published January 16, 2015
Hobby Lobby ruling on birth control doesn’t apply to religious groups, feds say
The Obama administration said Thursday that faith-based nonprofits should comply with Obamacare's birth control mandate because they enjoy much greater leeway than the corporations that sued and won before the Supreme Court last year. Published January 15, 2015
CDC: Flu vaccine is only 23 percent effective this season
This season's flu vaccine is effective against the virus only 23 percent of the time, a relatively low level of protection compared to years when the flu shot was better matched to circulating strains, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. Published January 15, 2015
Sylvia Mathews Burwell to GOP-led Congress: Get over Obamacare, focus on common ground
President Obama's top health official said Thursday that millions of Americans now rely on Obamacare and it is time for Congress to move beyond attempts to dismantle the 2010 law. Published January 15, 2015
HHS makes last-minute Obamacare pitch to Hispanics
The administration urged Latinos Wednesday to beat the clock and get covered on Obamacare's exchanges within the next 30 days, citing health disparities among the fast-growing constituency and fixes to its Spanish-language website after a rocky first year. Published January 14, 2015
Enrollment on federal Obamacare exchange reaches 6.8 million
Obamacare enrollment on the federal exchange has reached nearly 6.8 million, according to administration data released Wednesday that has Florida leading the way with about 1.2 million signups. Published January 14, 2015
