Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Members of both parties want more answers from Secret Service after missteps
Federal lawmakers from both parties say they are eager to get straight answers from Secret Service Director Julia Pierson about an intruder's ability to breach the White House and make it to the East Room before he was captured. Published September 30, 2014
Poll shows dead heat among likely voters in Mass. governor’s race
A new poll says Republican Charlie Baker has a razor-thin edge over Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley in the race for Massachusetts governor, although the Democrat leads among registered voters. Published September 30, 2014
Rick Perry: ‘I was a bit arrogant’ during 2012 run for White House
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, sounding like a guy who is ready to run for president in 2016, said Tuesday that "preparation" is the key to running for the highest office in the land. Published September 30, 2014
Hispanic groups say they won’t accept blame for Democratic losses this fall: report
Hispanic advocates say they won't entertain any blame if Democrats lose control of the Senate, a reflection of their disappointment in President Obama for delaying executive action on deportation reforms and apathy for Democratic candidates that haven't made a direct appeal to the demographic, according to the Wall Street Journal reported. Published September 30, 2014
New Democratic tilt in Louisiana is good news-bad news for Sen. Mary Landrieu: Gallup poll
More Louisianans identify or lean Democratic than Republican, a shift away from the GOP's edge in the past three years, according to Gallup data that offers a potential boon to Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu as she tries to stave off an election challenge from Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy. Published September 30, 2014
Rep. Jason Chaffetz: Putting Secret Service under DHS may have been mistake
A Utah congressman said Tuesday it's time for a fresh look at the Secret Service in the wake of a security breach at the White House, arguing it may be operating like a "political" office that's too willing to pat its officers on the back. Published September 30, 2014
Politics color information on Obamacare premiums
In Arkansas, Gov. Mike Beebe touted signs of a 2 percent drop in premiums in the state's Obamacare insurance exchange as proof the health law is working. Published September 29, 2014
Medicaid sprawling under Obamacare, but some states ill-equipped: report
Some states are better than others at providing access to care and keeping tabs on their Medicaid managed care programs, according to a federal report released Monday that raises questions about government oversight of the massive health program for the poor, which is rapidly expanding under Obamacare. Published September 29, 2014
Obamacare keeps pace with needed numbers
About 7.3 million Americans were getting health insurance through Obamacare's exchanges as of last month, the administration said Thursday, releasing numbers that suggest most customers did sign up properly and pay their premiums. Published September 18, 2014
Obamacare official: 7.3 million Americans are still enrolled and paid up
The Obama administration official responsible for implementing the health care law said Thursday that 7.3 million Americans were enrolled in coverage through the new marketplace as of August. Published September 18, 2014
Issa: White House makes it impossible to scrutinize Obamacare website
The House's top investigator said Thursday the main Obamacare website is still vulnerable to hackers and that the administration could not give him straight answers about a malicious attack of HealthCare.gov over the summer. Published September 18, 2014
White House took unnecessary security risks with Obamacare website: GAO
The Obama administration took on more security risks than it should have when it launched the federal Obamacare exchange last fall, government investigators said Wednesday. Published September 17, 2014
Priests for Life: We’re not stopping our fight against birth control mandate, either
Another high-level litigant has formally rejected the Obama administration's latest attempt to water down an Obamacare mandate that requires most group health plans to cover birth control. Published September 17, 2014
Obama admin. pushes back at report on abortion and Obamacare as GOP outcry rises
The Obama administration said Tuesday it will make sure states and insurers understand the ban on using federal funds for abortion, but pushed back at Republican claims that a government audit report proves pro-life advocates' worst fears about Obamacare. Published September 16, 2014
Federal study: Uninsured rate down 2 points from 2013
The percentage of Americans who lacked health insurance in the first three months of this year is down 2 points from the same period last year, according to a federal study released Tuesday that fueled Democrats' claims that Obamacare is working. Published September 16, 2014
Obamacare plans in 5 states cover abortion in potential violation of law
All of the health plans offered by Obamacare exchanges in five states include coverage for abortions in a potential violation of the law. Published September 15, 2014
Obamacare coverage hinges on immigration status for 115K: White House
The Obama administration said Monday that 115,000 Obamacare customers who did not resolve problems with their citizenship or immigration status by the Sept. 5 deadline will lose their coverage at the end of the month. Published September 15, 2014
D.C. statehood hearing seeks ‘thoughtful solution’ to lack of voting rights
A Democratic senator held the first congressional hearing on D.C. statehood in 20 years to "restart the conversation" about the city's lack of voting representation on Capitol Hill, but the discussion barely got off the ground before a top Republican quickly dismissed the summit as a one-sided look at a measure that's going nowhere. Published September 15, 2014
Republicans unconvinced Obama taking Islamic State threat seriously enough
The Obama administration struggled Sunday to define its strategy for beating back the Islamic State in Iraq and particularly in Syria, where its plan to rely on moderate fighters at this stage is complicating President Obama's sales pitch to Congress and his legacy of winding down wars in the Middle East. Published September 14, 2014
If he runs for president, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders may have to pick a side
Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday he's thinking about running for president, but first he's got to figure out if he'll rely on the infrastructure of the Democratic Party or stay true to his independent roots. Published September 14, 2014