Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Sen. Harry Reid: Obstructionist Republicans need to ‘grow up’ on health law issue
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opened floor debate on Tuesday by calling out "misguided Republicans" who want to eliminate a traditional employer subsidy that offsets the costs of health care for members of Congress and their staffs, arguing it is another attempt to derail President Obama's health care law. Published September 17, 2013
Poll finds more share negative view of Obamacare
More than half of the American public holds a negative view of the new health care law, even though many do not fully understand how it will affect them and even fewer want lawmakers to help it fail, new polling shows. Published September 16, 2013
Pa. Gov. Corbett open to Medicaid expansion, but reforms must come first
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Monday he will seek federal funds to buy private health insurance for thousands of state residents who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the new health care law, but only if he can secure reforms to the entitlement program first. Published September 16, 2013
More than half still disapprove of Obamacare: poll
A new survey finds that just over half of Americans disapprove of the new health care law while 42 percent approve of it. Published September 16, 2013
![Rep. Tom Price, Georgia Republican, says a delay on implementing Obamacare should not be off the table as part of a spending deal as some parts have been put off already. "[I]t's only fair for the American people now to have that same delay," he said. (Associated Press)](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2013/09/15/9_152013_ap130517123388201_c0-75-1800-1124_s652x380.jpg?7d7e6aefb921993848f95c0fc205a3d186791386)
GOP will have wiggle room on spending, but not on debt, in budget fight
House Republicans girding for a pair of fiscal fights this month will have some wiggle room when it comes to their spending priorities, but the debt limit is off the negotiating table — especially if they intend to use the new health care law as a bargaining chip, President Obama said Sunday. Published September 15, 2013
U.N. ability to seize all chemical weapons in Syria raises Republican doubts
Lawmakers on Sunday hailed the lofty goals of a pact the United States and Russia struck to locate and dismantle Syria's chemical weapons — but questioned whether Obama administration can assure the stockpiles won't be hidden by the Assad regime or seized by radicalized rebel groups. Published September 15, 2013
Sen. John McCain: Syrian deal does little, relies on Russians
Sen. John McCain on Sunday threw cold water on the deal the United States and Russia have struck to dismantle the Syrian government's chemical weapons stores by 2014, arguing it does nothing to keep the use of force on the table and help the rebels topple an Assad regime accused of gassing its own people. Published September 15, 2013
Obama: Senate immigration bill would pass House if it got a vote
President Obama said Sunday the immigration reform bill that passed in the Senate would get through the Republican-controlled House if leadership put it up for a vote. Published September 15, 2013
Obama: My administration stabilized an economy on cusp of depression
President Obama says his administration staved off a dire economic situation when he took office in 2009, even if Americans are still skeptical about the recovery and whether Wall Street is winning while the middle class struggles to get ahead. Published September 15, 2013
Lawmakers hopeful about Syrian deal, but skepticism abounds
Lawmakers from both parties on Sunday showed guarded optimism for a deal struck by U.S. and Russian officials to put chemical weapons inspectors in Syria by November, with destruction of the Assad regime's stockpiles set for next year. Published September 15, 2013
Treasury to unions: No Obamacare carve-outs for you
Despite pressure from top labor leaders, the Obama administration said late Friday it cannot extend government subsidies tied to the new health care law to union members with multi-employer health plans. Published September 14, 2013
N.J. Gov. Christie thanks neighboring governors for support after boardwalk fire
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday thanked the governors of New York and Connecticut for offering assistance to the help the Garden State rebuild, once more, a section of seaside boardwalk that was destroyed by fire late Thursday — less than a year after it had been torn apart by Superstorm Sandy. Published September 13, 2013
Florida Dems decry ‘spiteful’ ban on Obamacare helpers at county health sites
Florida Democrats in Congress are denouncing a rule issued by their state's health department that bans "navigators" who will help people understand the health care law from working at county health care properties. Published September 13, 2013
Less than half of Americans think government can handle international problems: survey
A new survey says less than half of Americans trust the government's ability to deal with international problems — an all-time low. Published September 13, 2013
House approves bill requiring new income-verification system for Obamacare
The House approved a bill Thursday that requires those seeking subsidies through the new health care law to prove their income. Published September 12, 2013
Cantor: Clear calendars for spending deal push
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said lawmakers should be ready to work on a short-term spending plan during the last week of September — a week they were supposed to be off — setting up yet another 11th-hour showdown over federal spending in Washington to avert a government shutdown. Published September 12, 2013
Top unions push for Obamacare ‘fix’
The nation's top labor organization passed a resolution on Wednesday backing President Obama's new health care law but demanding changes in how it treats union members' multi-employer health insurance plans. Published September 12, 2013
Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett is open to Medicaid expansion if he secures reforms: report
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett might expand Medicaid under the new health care law if he can secure reforms to the program first, according to a new report. Published September 12, 2013
One in five Americans struggle to afford food while food-stamp debate rages: survey
One in five Americans said they struggled to afford food in August, a percentage that marks an uptick since June and is close to the peak measured at the height of the economic crisis in 2008, a new survey said. Published September 12, 2013
House delays vote on bill to verify income on Obamacare exchanges
House Republicans delayed until Thursday a vote on a bill that demands a new program to verify the income of Americans who seek government subsidies to help them pay their health premiums under the new health care law. Published September 11, 2013
