Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Parents call for sanctions on countries that refuse to aid return of children
Parents whose spouses flee overseas with their children called Thursday for the federal government to put sanctions on countries that don't help get those children returned, saying it should be considered a human-trafficking issue, not merely a family dispute. Published May 9, 2013
Ky. governor OKs Medicaid expansion under ‘Obamacare’
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he supports the expansion of Medicaid in his state under President Obama's health care law, a decision that would extend coverage to 308,000 residents. Published May 9, 2013
Obama releases new data on hospital bill disparities
President Obama's top health officials released a massive trove of medical billing data Wednesday, which they said will help expose hospitals that charge too much for common procedures. Published May 8, 2013
Bipartisanship surfaces on issue of helium reserve
Federal lawmakers from both parties say they're eager to scale down the nation's helium reserve without disrupting the supply chain, a seemingly arcane effort that is so urgent it may "rise above" the partisan rancor on Capitol Hill. Published May 7, 2013
N.Y. judge wants contraception ruling enforced, says Obama’s playing politics
A federal judge on Thursday said the Obama administration is playing politics with his decision to make emergency contraception available to all ages without a prescription, according to attorneys who were in the courtroom. Published May 7, 2013
Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin drops block on Obama Medicare nominee
Sen. Tom Harkin said he will remove his hold on President Obama's pick to lead the nation's Medicare agency, but the powerful Iowa Democrat said Tuesday he is still not happy with the administration's "penny-wise, pound-foolish" tendency to raid a fund designated for preventative health programs. Published May 7, 2013
‘Obamacare’ not playing a leading role in state campaigns
President Obama's health care law may be a partisan flash point on Capitol Hill, but unique factors have forced it to play a supporting role in spring campaigns to fill empty seats in Congress. Published May 6, 2013
Pediatric PR: Sebelius tells pediatricians to promote ‘Obamacare’
President Obama's top health official asked the nation's pediatric groups on Monday to spread the word about benefits within the federal health care law, a plea that coincides with mounting pressure to implement the ambitious overhaul before its main provisions kick in next year. Published May 6, 2013
Reported Israel-led missile attack in Syria is sign of growing regional tension
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Sunday that Israel's reported airstrike outside of Damascus early Sunday is "sending a signal" to Iran, Hezbollah and possibly the United States "that the situation right in the Syrian area is getting very, very tense." Published May 5, 2013
Giuliani: Boston bombings show threat of homegrown jihadists
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said the Obama administration should ratchet up its focus on homegrown terrorists and their links to overseas jihadists despite the death of Osama bin Laden, citing the Boston Marathon bombings as a reminder that radicalized Islam is a constant threat. Published May 5, 2013
Israeli airstrikes on Syria put Obama at the crossroads
As Israeli planes hit targets in Syria for the second time in three days, some Republicans on Sunday ramped up their calls for President Obama to take stronger measures against the Assad regime — but the White House response was muted. Published May 5, 2013
Dramatic and damaging details on Benghazi attack expected during congressional showdown
The top American diplomat in Libya is set to offer politically damaging testimony this week that suggests the Obama administration fumbled its response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Published May 5, 2013
Federal judge will hear from litigants regarding Plan B contraceptives on Tuesday
The Justice Department will appear before a federal judge on Tuesday in its bid to suspend a controversial April 5 ruling that would make emergency contraceptives available to young teenage girls without a prescription in the coming days. Published May 3, 2013
Business owners’ lawsuit says tax credits cannot flow to federally run Obamacare markets
A group of small business owners has filed suit against President Obama's health care law, breathing new life into a long-simmering debate on whether the law's premium tax credits were solely intended for states that set up their own insurance markets. Published May 3, 2013
Birth control stances test Obama’s liberal base
The debate over minors' access to contraceptives is testing the loyalty of groups traditionally among the biggest supporters of President Obama, who said Thursday he is "comfortable" with his administration's efforts to find a middle ground on the issue. Published May 2, 2013
Obama’s appeal on morning-after pill ruling blurs battle lines, tests supporters’ loyalty
The ongoing debate over minors' access to contraceptives is testing the loyalty of groups traditionally among the biggest supporters of President Obama, who said Thursday he is "comfortable" with his administration's efforts to find a middle ground on the issue. Published May 2, 2013
W.Va. Gov. Tomblin opts to expand Medicaid under ‘Obamacare’
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, a Democrat, has decided to expand the Medicaid program in his state under President Obama's health care law. Published May 2, 2013
Obama administration to appeal Plan B contraception age limit
The Obama administration, under massive pressure from both sides of the culture war over contraception, has decided to appeal a federal court’s order to make a morning-after pill available to everyone without a prescription, just a day after expanding access to the pills for younger teenage girls. Published May 1, 2013
FDA approves sale of morning-after pill without a prescription to 15-year-olds
The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has approved selling a version of the morning-after contraceptive pill without a prescription to girls 15 years of age or older — down from the current 17-year-old age limit. Published April 30, 2013
Obama admits challenges but doubles down on ‘Obamacare’
President Obama on Tuesday vowed that his health care law will be a success for both insured and soon-to-be-covered Americans, even though it is a "big, complicated piece of business" facing ceaseless criticism on Capitol Hill and roadblocks to implementation in Republican-led states. Published April 30, 2013
