Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Sen. Lindsey Graham: Dems will rethink Obamacare ‘when they lose elections’
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday that Democrats will change their tune about repealing and replacing Obamacare "when they lose elections." Published March 31, 2014
Quirky new Toronto ad campaign promises bad behavior, just not ‘Rob Ford’ bad
A group attempting to unseat Toronto Mayor Rob Mayor after a year marked by his outlandish behavior and confessions of crack use has launched a novel ad campaign pitting kinda-bad behavior against the current mayor's. Published March 31, 2014
More gaining insurance than losing it under Obamacare: report
At least 9 million previously uninsured Americans have gained health coverage through Obamacare through a mix of private enrollment, Medicaid and a part of the law that allows young people to stay on their parents' plans, according to the Los Angeles Times. Published March 31, 2014
White House strikes upbeat tone amid worries about Obamacare’s future
A top White House aide said Monday he is optimistic about how Obamacare will turn out in its first year, despite a disastrous debut last fall, questions about sliding deadlines and worries that premiums could rise in the coming year. Published March 31, 2014
Hispanic voters disillusioned with political climate; trend could harm Democrats
Immigrant-rights advocates are reporting a spike in disillusionment with both parties among Hispanics, a vital and growing voting bloc that's boosted Democrats' advantages at the ballot box in recent years, The New York Times said Sunday. Published March 31, 2014
Error messages mar last day of Obamacare enrollment
Some users of the main Obamacare portal, HealthCare.gov, encountered error messages on the website Monday morning — the last day to sign up for policies before the health care law begins to penalize Americans for lacking health insurance. Published March 31, 2014
Va. voters support medical marijuana by wide margin, divided over personal use: poll
Virginia voters support medical marijuana by an overwhelming margin, 84-13 percent, but they're divided on whether the drug should be legalized for recreational use, said the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Published March 31, 2014
Lawmakers aim for diplomacy in Russian dealings
Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian officials Sunday to discuss a diplomatic solution to tensions along Ukraine's borders, as American lawmakers expressed concerns that Vladimir Putin has designs on more territory in the region. Published March 30, 2014
Sen. Wyden: U.S. intelligence community needs to be more transparent; reforms will help
A top Democratic senator says President Obama's decision to slow down the U.S. government's bulk collection of phone records, placing more faith in private companies, is a step in the right direction. Published March 30, 2014
N.J. Democrat: Much too early to say what Gov. Chris Christie knew about Bridgegate
A top Democrat in New Jersey's Legislature said Sunday it is "far too early" to conclude whether Gov. Chris Christie knew about toll-lane closings that caused massive traffic problems near the George Washington Bridge and sparked a political scandal that could roil the 2016 presidential race. Published March 30, 2014
On cusp of deadline, parties offer competing visions of Obamacare’s success
President Obama and his supporters are encouraging Americans to "get covered" in the final hours of the health care law's enrollment period, a six-month trial that courted disaster and criticism but could end with the White House claiming victory on its own terms. Published March 30, 2014
Rep. Mike Rogers: Putin wants to link up new territory in south Ukraine
Rep. Mike Rogers said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no signs of retreat after annexing Crimea from the Ukraine, but he wouldn't bet on intrusions into the eastern swath of the country. Published March 30, 2014
Obamacare health exchange enrollment meets goal
President Obama said Thursday that 6 million people have enrolled in health exchanges, putting the administration over its revised goal with four days to spare before the deadline. Published March 27, 2014
Obama says 6 million have enrolled through his health care law
Top health officials held up the announcement as a sign of momentum before Monday's deadline to sign up for private health coverage on the federal HealthCare.gov portal or one of 15 state-based health exchanges. Published March 27, 2014
House votes to thwart cuts to Medicare payments; quick vote stirs controversy
Democrats such as Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey said Congress could still approve a new structure that scraps the unpopular Medicare formula and replaces it with a permanent system that rewards doctors for quality of care, a longstanding goal for both parties. Published March 27, 2014
Obama administration: Don’t know how many will benefit from sign-up delay
The Obama administration that it doesn't know how many people will take advantage of the latest extension to buy insurance on the health care exchanges, in a move that signals just how determined President Obama is to make his law's economics work. Published March 26, 2014
Harry Reid defends Obamacare delay: Some folks ‘not educated on how to use the Internet’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday defended the Obama administration's decision to let people finish their Obamacare applications after the Monday deadline, saying some Americans simply "are not educated on how to use the Internet." Published March 26, 2014
GOP lawmakers slam latest Obamacare delay
Congressional Republicans lined up Wednesday to cry foul over the Obama administration's decision to let people sign up for health plans on the Obamacare marketplace even if they do not finish the process by Monday's deadline. Published March 26, 2014
Amid high-profile arguments, Supreme Court has a few laughs
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is known to be blunt at times, and he told it straight Tuesday after the justices upheld a lower court's ruling and overturned another. Published March 25, 2014
Female Supreme Court justices worry about corporations using religious objections to duck rules
The Supreme Court searched Tuesday for ways to let women get birth control without the government forcing their employers to cover the cost, as justices tried to balance business owners' religious rights against allowing religious objections to a broad range of public policy issues. Published March 25, 2014
