Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Bipartisan Senate group files bill to repeal Obamacare tax on medical devices
A bipartisan group of 10 senators introduced legislation to repeal Obamacare's tax on medical devices, a long-expected move from the Republican-controlled Congress because Democrats in certain states want to protect companies back home. Published January 13, 2015
Volunteer firefighter Obamacare mandate exempt under House-passed bill
The House voted Monday night to exempt volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel from Obamacare's insurance mandate on employers, a follow-up to a similar bill for veterans that passed unanimously last week. Published January 12, 2015
Anti-torture protesters interrupt Senate, are detained in handcuffs
Capitol Police detained a horde of anti-torture protesters who stood up and yelled from atop the Senate chamber during afternoon business Monday. Published January 12, 2015
Obama administration begins to issue vital Obamacare forms for tax filers
The Obama administration is sending out tax forms that Obamacare customers need to have in hand before they file their returns. Published January 12, 2015
Tom Price: Supreme Court could unravel Obamacare ‘pretty darn quickly’
A Supreme Court case that could cut off Obamacare's subsidies to 34 states presents a "great opportunity" for Republicans to unravel the contentious overhaul, Rep. Tom Price said Monday. Published January 12, 2015
House passes 40-hour workweek for Obamacare; Dems buck Obama veto threat
Congress took its first swipes at Obamacare on Thursday with the House approving a bill to cancel the law's 30-hour workweek provision, though only a dozen Democrats bucked President Obama on the vote. Published January 8, 2015
Senators slam White House threat to veto $53B Obamacare hours fix
Congressional lawmakers, including Democrats, rebuked the White House on Wednesday for refusing to allow tweaks to Obamacare, saying President Obama is reneging on his promise to work to fix problems in the law. Published January 7, 2015
HHS: Obamacare sign-ups hit 6.6 million
Nearly 6.6 million people selected health plans on the federal Obamacare exchange between Nov. 15 and Jan. 2, the Obama administration said Wednesday in its latest "snapshot" of activity in the law's second go-around. Published January 7, 2015
Republicans take aim at Obamacare 30-hour workweek
Republicans took control of Congress on Tuesday promising to whittle down Obamacare but still struggling to figure out how far to go — and whether any of their efforts can succeed with President Obama still in the White House. Published January 6, 2015
Obamacare vote to test Democrats’ resolve under Republican majority
Republicans took control of Congress on Tuesday promising to whittle down Obamacare but still struggling to figure out how far to go — and whether any of their efforts can succeed with President Obama still in the White House. Published January 5, 2015
Ebola screening: U.S. takes Mali off list
Travelers from Mali will no longer be singled out for enhanced Ebola-virus screening at U.S. airports, a pair of government agencies said Monday in a sign the government is willing to scale down its precautions once a country eradicates the disease from within its borders. Published January 5, 2015
Obamacare repeal: Republicans eye ‘reconciliation’ route
With Senate Democrats losing their majority but still able to muster enough troops to mount successful filibusters, Republicans are eyeing another tactic in their uphill fight to dismantle Obamacare. Published January 1, 2015
Obamacare employer insurance mandate kicks in Jan. 1
Obamacare's insurance mandate on employers will quietly take effect for large companies Thursday, one year later than planned after a pair of unilateral delays fed into Republican claims the White House plays fast and loose with the implementation of its signature law. Published December 31, 2014
Obamacare’s federal exchange gains 1.8M new customers for 2015: HHS
Nearly 1.8 million new customers signed up for health coverage on the federal Obamacare marketplace and over 1.6 million actively re-enrolled for coverage starting Jan. 1, while an additional 600,000 new and returning customers added to the tally on exchanges run by 13 states and the District of Columbia, according to administration data released Tuesday. Published December 30, 2014
Accenture wins $563M contract to run HealthCare.gov
The Obama administration has awarded Accenture — the technology company that swooped in to help revive HealthCare.gov at the start of this year — a five-year, $563 million contract to continue its work on the federal Obamacare exchange, the company said Monday. Published December 29, 2014
Kathleen Sebelius has few regrets about Obamacare
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says she has few regrets about how the Obamacare saga has played out, despite a disastrous rollout that led up to her resignation from President Obama's cabinet last spring. Published December 29, 2014
Republican governors push to expand Medicaid
Even as states wrestle with whether to expand their Medicaid programs under Obamacare, they're already grappling with the looming 2017 date when the federal government begins to cut its support, which will force states to have to make tricky budget decisions. Published December 28, 2014
NYPD Commissioner: Officers turning their backs on deBlasio was ‘inappropriate’
New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton on Sunday denounced the actions of hundreds of officers who turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio during the weekend funeral for one of two city officers shot in cold blood as protests over police-involved killings roiled America. Published December 28, 2014
Obama marks end of Afghan mission as ‘milestone’
President Obama marked the end of America's longest-ever war Sunday by praising those who died in the post-9/11 mission in Afghanistan and trumpeting his own efforts to bring troops home, even as he committed to leaving a "limited military presence" to train Afghan forces for the lingering fight against extremists. Published December 28, 2014
Singapore-bound AirAsia jet goes missing over Java Sea with 162 on board
As crews searched for yet another missing passenger plane over southeast Asian waters, the corporate face of the airline is using social media to show he is actively engaged in the response. Published December 28, 2014
