Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
New GOP bill would force faulty state Obamacare exchanges to pay back federal funds
Republican lawmakers filed a bill Wednesday requiring states that abandon their faulty Obamacare markets to repay the federal government for grant funds they received to plan and build the portals. Published May 14, 2014
Sen. Claire McCaskill: Plan to rename Union Station is a winner
Sen. Claire McCaskill said former President Harry S. Truman might have been "a little cranky" about her plan to rename Washington's iconic train station after him. Published May 14, 2014
Senate to hold hearing on VA problems Thursday
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hold a hearing Thursday on the state of the VA health care, as debate rages on Capitol Hill about backlogs and long wait times that may have harmed, or even killed, veterans in the Phoenix area and elsewhere. Published May 14, 2014
California may distribute condoms to prison inmates
California lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow the state to distribute condoms to prison inmates, an attempt to cut down on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, although sex acts between inmates would remain unlawful. Published May 14, 2014
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is in the driver’s seat on road to re-election
Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich has the support of half the state's electorate and leads his Democratic challenger by 50-35 percent in his re-election bid, a new poll said. Published May 14, 2014
In a rarity, Sen. Jon Tester goes to bat for the VA
Sen. Jon Tester on Wednesday did something that's unusual in Washington these days — he defended the Department of Veterans Affairs. Published May 14, 2014
Throw the bums out: Poll shows Americans want turnover in Congress
About one in five U.S. voters say most members of Congress deserve re-election while 72 percent say they do not, a level of incumbent satisfaction that is on pace to be the lowest measured by Gallup in an election year. Published May 14, 2014
Philip Rivers to speak at Catholic’s commencement, receive honorary degree
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is known for his mouth on the sidelines, but he'll probably tone it down a notch when he delivers Catholic University's graduation address this Saturday. Published May 13, 2014
Rep. Louie Gohmert: Repeal Obamacare first, then try to fix it
Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas says Obamacare needs to be repealed before lawmakers consider what parts may be worth saving. Published May 13, 2014
Sen. Mary Landrieu laughs it up with her dad in new campaign ad
Sen. Mary Landrieu's re-election campaign launched a new ad Tuesday that relies on humorous banter between the incumbent Democrat and her well-known father, former New Orleans Mayor Maurice "Moon" Landrieu. Published May 13, 2014
‘Woodwork’ Medicaid population puts non-expansion states on the hook
States that opted not to expand Medicaid under Obamacare may still shell out more money for the program because the law's publicity brought previously eligible people out of the "woodwork," said an analysis released Tuesday. Published May 13, 2014
Shane Osborn, Ben Sasse both confident in Nebraska’s brutal GOP primary
Despite an intense primary battle, the trio of Nebraskans vying for the GOP nomination for Senate have something in common — each thinks he will win Tuesday. Published May 13, 2014
Tony Perkins: ESPN’s Michael Sam clip reveals a ‘political agenda’ in sports
A conservative think tank that focuses on family issues is crying foul over ESPN's "political agenda," after it aired footage from the NFL Draft that shows openly gay athlete Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend. Published May 13, 2014
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen launches pro-business ad in race against Scott Brown
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's re-election campaign is set to launch its second TV ad buy in New Hampshire this week as it tries to stave off Republican challenger Scott Brown, the former Massachusetts senator who found a new state and renewed political ambitions this year. Published May 13, 2014
Mayor Bill de Blasio looks to Sweden for latest NYC reform: No more traffic deaths: report
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is looking to Sweden as the template for his strategy to target 2024 as the city's first year with zero traffic deaths. Published May 13, 2014
Rep. Mike Rogers: Obvious that Benghazi security was ‘deteriorating rapidly’
Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan said Tuesday there were warnings signs that the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was vulnerable to an attack before the death of four Americans on Sept. 11, 2012. Published May 13, 2014
N.J. Medicaid system can’t keep up with Obamacare enrollees: report
More than 30,000 of the 140,000 New Jersey residents who signed up for Medicaid under Obamacare are caught in a tech backlog or waiting for their ID cards, state officials told a legislative committee Monday. Published May 13, 2014
It’s official: Sen. Pat Roberts a true Kansan
Sen. Pat Roberts can focus on his re-election bid this year, now that a state board has ruled he is a true Kansan who can be on the ballot in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. Published May 12, 2014
Top House Republicans: We haven’t forgotten about Medicare Advantage cuts
Top House Republicans on Monday signaled they haven't forgotten their push to protect an insurer-run alternative to traditional Medicare, an election-year drumbeat that shows no signs of waning even though the Obama administration in April said it would boost — not cut — payment rates under the program for seniors. Published May 12, 2014
Republican campaigns see opportunity in emerging Obamacare numbers
The National Republican Congressional Committee on Monday jumped on a new Obamacare report that says 74 percent of enrollees were previously insured in some fashion before signing up under the new law. Published May 12, 2014
