Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Fake sign language interpreter from Mandela memorial admitted to psych ward
The fake sign language interpreter who signed at Nelson Mandela's memorial service this month in South Africa before being outed as a fraud has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, according to news reports. Published December 19, 2013
Florida Dem senator defends NSA snooping efforts
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida takes issue with a new report that would roll back the National Security Agency's phone records program, saying the program collects "business records" and requires a court order to get the actual content of calls. Published December 19, 2013
Calls for military pension fix grow
Georgia senator joins the chorus of lawmakers Thursday who want to see the pain of budget cuts spread around to alleviate the pressure on military retirees. Published December 19, 2013
La. Gov. Jindal defends suspended Duck Dynasty star
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has weighed in on A&E's decision to suspend the patriarch of its popular show, "Duck Dynasty," saying it is "a messed-up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended." Published December 19, 2013
Sen. Cochran files bill to repeal Obamacare if more lose coverage than gain
Sen. Thad Cochran said Wednesday he will file a bill that triggers the repeal of Obamacare if the number of Americans who are uninsured after Jan. 1 is higher than the amount of uncovered people at the time of the law's passage in March 2010. Published December 18, 2013
Top insurers’ group: Obamacare customers have 10 more days to pay first premium
A trade group for insurers said health plans across the country are delaying the deadline for Obamacare consumers to pay their first premium by 10 days, citing the holidays and problems with HealthCare.gov. Published December 18, 2013
Pelosi raises alarm over handling of classified Obamacare documents
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi asked Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday to hold a classified briefing on Obamacare documents acquired by Rep. Darrell Issa — the chamber's top investigator — that Democrats say could compromise HealthCare.gov's security. Published December 18, 2013
GOP lawmaker: Best ‘fix’ for Obamacare is a mercy killing
A Louisiana Republican lawmaker is recommending that Kurt DelBene, the former Microsoft executive who will oversee the federal Obamacare website next year, should just advise President Obama to scrap his signature health care law. Published December 18, 2013
GOP, Dem lawmakers unite in call for women’s history museum
A pair of federal lawmakers said Wednesday the time has come to established a national museum dedicated to women's history. Published December 18, 2013
Priebus sees conservative activist groups as GOP ‘asset’
Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus said Wednesday he considers outside conservative groups to be an "asset" to the party, despite recent harsh criticism from House GOP Speaker John Boehner. Published December 18, 2013
Shock poll finding: I’m doing great, but the U.S. is going to hell in a handbasket
A new survey suggests many people think the country's problems do not translate into their own problems, with three out of four people saying they are dissatisfied with how the United States is doing while only one-fifth saying they're dissatisfied with their personal situation. Published December 18, 2013
5 million fall into Obamacare coverage gap
The Kaiser Family Foundation said Tuesday that roughly 5 million Americans will earn too much money to qualify for a government health-insurance program and too little to qualify for subsidized coverage under Obamacare next year. Published December 17, 2013
Microsoft’s Kurt DelBene to oversee Obamacare repairs, replacing Jeffrey Zients
President Obama's top health official said Tuesday she has selected a Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene to replace Jeffrey Zients to manage the troubled federal Obamacare website, acknowledging that HealthCare.gov still needs strict oversight. Published December 17, 2013
Rep. Steve Stockman: Give my campaign $10, and you’ll get an Obama barf bag
Rep. Steve Stockman, an outspoken Texas conservative who recently announced a bid for the Senate, wants supporters to chip in $10 for his campaign in exchange for an "Obama barf bag." Published December 17, 2013
Expert: Obamacare ‘death spiral’ fears exaggerated
A new report says is it important that younger Americans enroll in the new insurance markets tied to Obamacare, but fears of a "death spiral" for the new law if they don't may be overblown. Published December 17, 2013
Administration cites Obamacare boost for seniors
The Obama administration said Tuesday more than 25 million people on traditional Medicare received at least one free preventive care service during the first 11 months of this year because of the new health care law. Published December 17, 2013
Obama meets with tech executives from Apple and Google
President Obama's meeting Tuesday with executives from tech companies such as Apple and Google will focus in part on the flawed rollout of HealthCare.gov, the federal web portal tied to Obamacare. Published December 17, 2013
Administration sees Obamacare progress, but deadlines loom
One week from a key deadline, health officials said Monday the federal Obamacare website is working consistently but they are still working to smooth out bugs and make sure enrollee data are reported accurately. Published December 16, 2013
OBAMASCARE: Huge premium hikes rock employer-insured workers
While most of the early Obamacare rollout problems have focused on the uninsured and those who get their policies through the individual market exchanges, more than 150 million Americans who get coverage through their employers are likely to feel the fallout as well. Published December 16, 2013
In rare bipartisan move, Congress tackles long-standing Medicare issue
Capitol Hill lawmakers took a bipartisan stride Thursday toward solving a festering problem in American health care — how to pay doctors through Medicare. Published December 12, 2013