Tom Howell Jr.

Senate Democrats under pressure in student loans battle

Even as the Senate grapples with high-profile immigration reform, lawmakers are under pressure to strike a deal on the cost of college student loans before rates double Monday — a fight that sees Mr. Obama aligned closer to the GOP than his own party. Published June 25, 2013

White House launches website, enlists NFL as part of Obamacare blitz

The Obama administration launched its promotion of the new health care law in earnest Monday, revealing that it has asked the National Football League to advertise insurance options as it rolls out a glossy new website and a 24-hour call center to clear up confusion about the law. Published June 24, 2013

NSA leaker Edward Snowden, helped by WikiLeaks, heads to Ecuador via Russia

The computer technician who faces criminal charges for leaking details of U.S. spying programs left Hong Kong on Sunday to seek asylum in Ecuador, reigniting debate over his conflicted status as either a champion for personal privacy or a traitor who might curry favor with hostile nations. Published June 23, 2013

NSA chief tries to assuage public over spying programs

The head of the National Security Agency said Sunday that the former analyst who leaked information about American spying programs cause "irreversible damage" to the country and is not acting, "in my opinion, with noble intent." Published June 23, 2013

GOP senators, divided on immigration, find common ground on NSA leaker

Republican senators who don't always see eye to eye agreed Sunday that the former National Security Agency analyst who leaked details of top-secret U.S. spying programs and reportedly is on his way from Hong Kong to the likes of Cuba or Venezuela is a "felon" whose travels plans are misguided. Published June 23, 2013

Plan B drug maker: FDA approved pill without restrictions

The drug maker at the heart of a legal fight over access to emergency contraception said Friday it got the green light to offer its one-pill product to customers of all ages, who will not need a prescription or identification to purchase it. Published June 21, 2013

Catholics, Southern Baptists unite against Obamacare contraception mandate

America's Catholic bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention joined forces on Friday, calling on Congress to pass bills that would exempt companies and nonprofits from the contraception insurance coverage mandate in President Obama's health care law. Published June 21, 2013

House rejection of farm bill sows bad seeds for Boehner

The House rejected the massive farm bill Thursday after conservative Republicans banded with Democrats, dealing a major defeat to House Speaker John A. Boehner and the GOP leadership and raising questions about the chamber's ability to pass any ambitious legislation this year. Published June 20, 2013

Planned Parenthood touts benefits of Obamacare

Planned Parenthood has joined the ranks of White House allies promoting President Obama's health care law, greeting visitors to its website with a section on "Obamacare and You." Published June 20, 2013

GAO sees problem meeting health law deadlines

The government's chief auditor on Wednesday said President Obama's health care overhaul is in danger of missing key October deadlines, raising concerns it could be the nightmare that Republicans and even some Democratic lawmakers have feared of late. Published June 19, 2013

U.S. Chamber of Commerce sounds the alarm over ballooning entitlement spending

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday it will start a campaign to try to fix American entitlement programs, saying Social Security, Medicare and other programs are growing so quickly they will eventually crowd out other spending on infrastructure, defense and education. Published June 19, 2013

Obama’s army of supporters to man the trenches in new health care push

Enroll America, the nonprofit that is leading the charge in promoting President Obama's health care law, announced on Tuesday it has launched a nationwide campaign to help the uninsured learn about benefits and subsidies that take effect next year. Published June 18, 2013

House votes to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy

House Republicans powered through a bill Tuesday to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, saying the recent conviction of a Philadelphia abortion provider for killing newborn babies has revived the contentious debate. Published June 18, 2013

Farm bill cuts judged both too much, not enough

A year after they failed to pass a farm bill and suffered for it in several big congressional races, House Republicans think they've finally got the right balance to fund agricultural programs while weaning more Americans off food stamp benefits. Published June 17, 2013

House passes $638B defense spending bill

The House on Friday authorized $638 billion in military spending for the coming fiscal year, including $86 billion for the war in Afghanistan, while attempting to address reports of the rising number of sexual assaults in the military. Published June 14, 2013

Supreme Court: Companies cannot obtain patents for human genes

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled unanimously that human genes are "a product of nature" and companies cannot obtain patents on them — a major shift in patent policy that could open the door to broader medical research on certain cancers and other diseases. Published June 13, 2013