Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Feds: Medicaid fraud reached ‘epidemic levels’ in D.C. region
Federal prosecutors said Medicaid fraud has reached “epidemic levels” in the nation’s capital, as they announced charges Thursday against 25 people accused of making claims based on fake symptoms and personal home care that was never performed. Published February 20, 2014
More than 12,000 Capitol Hill lawmakers, aides sign up for Obamacare in D.C.
A provision of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires members of Congress and their official staff to obtain health insurance from state-based exchanges tied to the law, although some have found a way around the provision. Published February 20, 2014
Sen. Rob Portman: Congress should tread lightly on minimum wage hike
Republican Sen. Rob Portman said Thursday that lawmakers should tread warily in sizing up a Democrat-led proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, citing economic conditions and a new report that says the hike could kill a half-million jobs. Published February 20, 2014
Biden: Obamacare off to ‘hell of a start’ despite problems
Vice President Joseph Biden used a quick stop in Minneapolis to tout the rollout of Obamacare, even as he acknowledged that sign-ups could fall short of goals. Published February 20, 2014
More than half of Americans view China unfavorably, poll shows
More than half of surveyed Americans view China — the nation's chief "strategic and economic rival" for years to come — in an unfavorable light, a Gallup poll said. Published February 20, 2014
Ted Cruz beats back criticism, defends his debt-limit moves
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he has no regrets about opposing a Senate plan to extend the nation's debt limit this month, saying party leaders should have held firm against the measure instead of green-lighting it so they could later claim they voted against it during the final vote. Published February 20, 2014
Hillary Clinton dominates the 2016 field in Ohio, poll shows
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would trump the rest of the presidential field among Ohio voters in 2016, as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "is stuck in traffic with other leading Republican contenders," a new poll said. Published February 20, 2014
Residents of the Dakotas lead the nation in well-being: Gallup poll
The Dakotas led the nation in well-being in 2013, according to a new index that knocked Hawaii off the top spot and placed West Virginia and Kentucky at the bottom for the fifth year in a row. Published February 20, 2014
Federal judge in Virginia rejects challenge to Obamacare subsidy
A federal judge in Virginia has thrown out a lawsuit, which mirrors one under appeal in the District, that claims Obamacare subsidies should only flow to residents who live in a state that decided to run its own insurance market under the law. Published February 19, 2014
Canada leader to bring up Keystone with Obama
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke Wednesday to officials with the TransCanada company that wants to build the Keystone XL pipeline, shortly before he meets with President Obama at the "Three Amigos" summit in Mexico. Published February 19, 2014
California’s Obamacare market says it’s reached projected enrollment goal
California's state-run Obamacare market says its exceeded its 2014 open-enrollment goal with six weeks left to go in the sign-up period. Published February 19, 2014
Obama-style campaign efforts don’t always translate into Obamacare success: report
The door-to-door tactics that helped get President Obama re-elected have not worked as well when it comes to selling his signature health care law, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Published February 19, 2014
Sen. Marco Rubio condemns violence in Ukraine
Rubio on Wednesday urged the Obama administration "to use every diplomatic means at its disposal" to punish Ukraine officials involved in acts of violence amid continuing unrest in Kiev, the capital city. Published February 19, 2014
Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s lead over possible challenger tightens: survey
Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich enjoys a positive job approval rating but hasn't been able to shake his possible Democratic challenger, the "largely unknown" Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald, according to a Quinnipiac University survey. Published February 19, 2014
For first time, Americans split on whether Afghan war was a mistake, poll shows
For the first time since the conflict began in 2001, Americans are just as likely to say the war in Afghanistan was a mistake as to say it was not, Gallup said. Published February 19, 2014
Federal judge in Va. delivers another setback for legal theory about Obamacare subsidies
A federal judge in Virginia has tossed a lawsuit, which mirrors one under appeal in Washington, that claims Obamacare subsidies should only flow to residents who live in a state that decided to run its own insurance market under the law. Published February 19, 2014
Stimulate job growth with Keystone XL, not minimum-wage hike: Sen. Thune
Sen. John Thune said Wednesday there is "low-hanging fruit" to stimulate job growth — the Keystone XL oil pipeline project for one — that would help Americans climb out of tough economic times without accepting a Democrat-led bid to increase the minimum wage. Published February 19, 2014
Md. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown leads race to succeed O’Malley, despite troubled Obamacare role
Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, who led the rollout of the state's troubled Obamacare portal, enjoys a 2-to-1 lead over his closest opponent in the Democratic primary, although many voters may still change their minds before casting their ballots in June, according to a new poll. Published February 19, 2014
Democrats file brief in Obamacare exchange subsidies lawsuit
Top Democrats who orchestrated the new health care law said they always intended for those in the health exchanges to be eligible for subsidies no matter whether they enrolled through a federal or state program — a key issue in an ongoing lawsuit over Obamacare. Published February 18, 2014
Rush Holt to retire from Congress at end of term
Mr. Holt, a former arms control expert at the State Department and research director at Princeton University, arrived on Capitol Hill in 1999 served as chairman of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel from 2007 to 2011. Published February 18, 2014
