Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Ted Cruz sees legal landmines ahead for Obamacare
One of Congress' staunchest critics of Obamacare released a report Monday that cheers on legal challenges to the overhaul and says the White House overstepped its authority by delaying aspects of the law. Published December 9, 2013
Obama admin.: One in 10 Obamacare forms might have errors
The Obama administration said up to one in four of the forms that transmitted enrollment data from the federal Obamacare exchange to insurers may have contained errors in October and November, according to a preliminary review. Published December 6, 2013
Obama administration knew of key Obamacare delay in August, emails say
House Republicans released emails Friday that suggest the Obama administration knew as early as August that the small-business exchange tied to Obamacare would not be ready on time. Published December 6, 2013
House Speaker John Boehner: It took me 3 to 4 hours to sign up for Obamacare
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Thursday it took him "three to four hours" to sign up for Obamacare, but he made it through eventually. Published December 5, 2013
Young millennials shun Obamacare, creating risky imbalance
Less than one-third of uninsured young Americans say they are likely to sign up for health insurance in the Obamacare exchanges, according to a Harvard University Institute of Polling survey Wednesday that signals President Obama's sales pitch to a key group of his supporters is falling short. Published December 4, 2013
Almost 1.5 million deemed eligible for Medicaid in October alone: Obama administration
Nearly 1.5 million people were deemed eligible in October to enroll in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program through state agencies or the state-by-state insurance markets tied to the new health care law, the Obama administration said Tuesday. Published December 3, 2013
Federal judge set to decide Obamacare battle over subsidies
A federal judge is set to decide this month whether Obamacare insurance markets run by the federal government can dole out subsidies to help consumers pay for their coverage — a key element to making President Obama's health law work as intended. Published December 3, 2013
Diagnosis: Health site better, but needs work
The Obama administration said a surge of users flocked to a revamped HealthCare.gov on Monday, but tech specialists worried that many are still waiting in line and said errors buried deep in the system could still sour those new customers taking a second look at the Obamacare marketplace. Published December 2, 2013
Lawmakers on both sides doubt Obamacare website troubles over
The Obama administration said Sunday the flawed federal website that threatened to undo President Obama's health care law in its infancy "is night and day from where it was on Oct. 1." Published December 1, 2013
Latest Obamacare delay: Obama administration puts off Web enrollment for small businesses
The Obama administration on Wednesday announced a major delay to the new health care law, this time putting off by one year the online mechanism that lets small businesses shop for plans through the federal Obamacare marketplace. Published November 27, 2013
One day after Sandy Hook report, Newtown football team wraps up undefeated regular season
The Newtown, Conn., high school football team finished an undefeated 2013 regular season late Tuesday, one day after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in their town returned to the news with the release of a report that said the 20-year-old shooter acted alone and had no clear motive. Published November 27, 2013
Supreme Court to decide Obamacare birth control mandate
The Supreme Court has agreed to referee another dispute over President Barack Obama's health care law, whether businesses can use religious objections to escape a requirement to cover birth control for employees. Published November 26, 2013
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he doesn’t need advice from Marion Barry — or anyone
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said in an interview that aired Monday he is "only human" and likes to party sometimes, but he hasn't reached out to former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry for advice on how to make a political comeback from a crack-related incident. Published November 26, 2013
White House: Obamacare will be better, but not perfect, by Dec. 1 deadline
The Obama administration said Monday that users who log onto the federal Obamacare website by the end of the week will find a vastly improved portal that works for the lion's share of users, but it warned that glitches still could crop up. Published November 25, 2013
Capitol Christmas Tree set to arrive Monday
The Capitol Christmas Tree will wrap up its trek from Washington to Washington on Monday. Published November 25, 2013
Obama adviser: U.S. shares Israel’s concerns about Iran, but its tactics differ
President Obama's deputy national security adviser on Monday defended the new interim deal to curb Iran's nuclear program, saying that the United States will "continue to confront" the Islamic Republic and that pressure on the country is "not going away." Published November 25, 2013
!["The best thing we can do now is to scrap [the Affordable Care Act] and start over with a step-by-step approach that focuses on lower cost and patient-centered solutions," Rep. Michael C. Burgess, Texas Republican and a physician, said in the weekly Republican address about the continued problems with Obamacare in general and the rocky performance of the HealthCare.gov website. (Associated Press)](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2013/11/24/11242013_ap8002419750468201_c0-162-4776-2945_s652x380.jpg?70aef118a37819f98864d7e30943d873082b6c2c)
Obama’s latest tweaks to health care deadlines lead to GOP calls to start over
Republican lawmakers, agitated by even more tweaks to Obamacare's timeline in the coming months and years, reissued their calls Sunday to replace President Obama's health care law with new reforms. Published November 24, 2013
House GOP leaders greet Iran deal with skepticism
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday an interim deal to curb Iran's nuclear program should be met with "healthy skepticism and hard questions," making it clear he thinks negotiations have just begun. Published November 24, 2013
Sen. Saxby Chambliss: This is no time to ease up on Iran; sanctions are working
Sen. Saxby Chambliss said Sunday he is no fan of the new deal to ease economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for concessions on that country's nuclear program, saying the Senate likely will move ahead to tighten sanctions that are working. Published November 24, 2013
Sen. Bob Corker: Obama administration talks tough but needs to follow through on Iran
Sen. Bob Corker said Sunday the overnight deal reached in Geneva to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for a gradual easing of economic sanctions will be useless if Congress does not hold the Islamic Republic's "feet to the fire" to make sure its leaders do not feel as if they have scored a win. Published November 24, 2013
