Tom Howell Jr.

GOP-backed delay to Obamacare would save $35 billion, report says

Congressional auditors said Friday the House-passed bill to delay by one year the individual mandate at the heart of President Obama's new health care law would reduce federal deficits by about $35 billion over the next decade. Published September 6, 2013

Minnesota boasts of low coverage costs under Obamacare

Minnesota's insurance officials said Friday the state will offer some the lowest health insurance rates in the country on the state health exchange it will launch this fall to satisfy a key pillar of President Obama's new health care law. Published September 6, 2013

Low-cost insurance could lead to high medical bills

Health insurance plans in Obamacare's state exchanges will cost less than initially projected, according to a study released Thursday that the administration and its allies said is proof that the law is working as intended. Published September 5, 2013

Obamacare ‘employer mandate’ streamlined by Treasury, but delay stays

The Treasury Department proposed regulations on Thursday to implement reporting requirements for insurers and larger firms subject to the new health care law's "employer mandate," a controversial provision the White House quietly delayed for one year. Published September 5, 2013

American Indians need more Obamacare benefits education, says GAO

Government investigators say more than half of Americans Indians and Alaskan Natives — "hundreds of thousands" of them — will be eligible for benefits tied to Obamacare, but federal officials are not doing enough to link them with coverage options that kick in next year. Published September 5, 2013

Republicans question cost of Obamacare price break for unions

Anticipating a move by the White House to appease unions, top House Republicans asked Congress' auditors to estimate how much it would cost to provide Obamacare subsidies to workers who use multi-employer health plans. Published September 5, 2013

Many will not get Obamacare benefits in states resisting Medicaid push: study

Two in five adults who were uninsured at some point in the past two years and live in states that opted not to expand their Medicaid enrollment under President Obama's health care overhaul will not be able to take advantage of new coverage options under the sweeping law, according to a new study. Published September 5, 2013

Bill Clinton calls on Obamacare detractors to make the law work

Former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday called on Obamacare's opponents to embrace the new health care law, arguing Americans cannot tolerate from "now to eternity" a broken health care system that lags behind those of other rich nations. Published September 4, 2013

Lawmakers demand Capitol Hill not be shielded from Obamacare

A quartet of Republican lawmakers on Tuesday accused the Obama administration of taking steps to "shield Washington insiders" from financial impacts of the new health care law and said it should reconsider its approach. Published September 3, 2013

Obamacare foes claim 1 million signatures for defunding

The Senate Conservatives Fund and outspoken Republican lawmakers boasted Tuesday that more than one million people have signed an online petition that calls on Congress to strip funding from President Obama's health care law. Published September 3, 2013

GOP wants decision overturned on taxpayer subsidies for Obamacare for Congress, staff

A growing chorus of Republican lawmakers is calling on the Obama administration to reverse its decision to let members of Congress and their staffs use taxpayer money to buy insurance under the new health care law, setting up a politically touchy debate as more of the law takes effect. Published September 1, 2013

Wal-Mart wage bill in D.C. heads for mayor’s desk

A "living wage" bill that has sparked a running tiff between Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and D.C. lawmakers is expected to reach the desk of Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Friday. Published August 29, 2013

AFL-CIO’s Trumka: Obamacare still needs fixing

The chief of America's top labor group said Thursday that President Obama's health care law is a step in the right direction but it "wasn't thought completely through" and he is speaking to the White House about how to fix it. Published August 29, 2013

GOP-led states that held out on Medicaid giving in

Some of the Republican-led states holding out against expanding their Medicaid programs are beginning to cave, effectively embracing a key pillar of President Obama's health care law. Published August 28, 2013

Cruz: Some Republicans only want political cover on Obamacare

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Wednesday that too many of his fellow Republicans are "scared" of his bid to defund Obamacare and are exaggerating the consequences of taking a stand during an upcoming budget showdown on Capitol Hill. Published August 28, 2013

Obamacare backers target back-to-school audience

A key ally in the Obama administration's efforts to promote the health care law announced Wednesday it is leveraging back-to-school season by touting Obamacare to young people and their parents at college campus orientations and backpack giveaways. Published August 28, 2013