Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Supreme Court health care ruling draws mixed reaction locally
The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision on Thursday to uphold President Obama's health care mandate as a tax prompted Democratic leaders in the District and Maryland, as early adopters of Mr. Obama's vision, to rejoice while Virginia's Republican governor denounced it as "a blow to freedom." Published June 28, 2012
Lieberman defends D.C. on city affairs
Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday publicly defended the District's right to govern its local affairs, noting "no one in Congress would dare to impose laws on any of the states." Published June 27, 2012
Sen. Paul proposes more D.C. budget autonomy for abortion restrictions, looser gun laws
Sen. Rand Paul plans to amend a bill that allows D.C. officials to spend local dollars without waiting for approval on Capitol Hill by tacking on provisions that restrict abortions in the District and relax the city's gun laws. Published June 26, 2012
Congressman abandons plan to ‘nationalize’ D.C. WWI memorial
A Texas congressman is no longer pursuing a plan to nationalize the District's World War I memorial, a contentious proposal that had prompted D.C. officials to focus on downtown's Pershing Park as a "fitting alternative" to the local monument's prized site on the National Mall. Published June 26, 2012
Conflicts will be few, says D.C. ethics panel pick
Former D.C. Attorney General Robert Spagnoletti told a D.C. Council committee on Monday he can be an effective member of the newly created ethics board - despite what his critics may say - and that his ties to city government are unlikely to force his recusal from many cases. Published June 25, 2012
Council hears Gray’s outline in reforming campaign finances
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray will send a package of campaign finance reforms to the D.C. Council by mid-July that answers mounting calls to eliminate pay-to-play politics without resorting to sweeping bans that the nation's highest court has deemed unconstitutional, the city's top legal officer said Monday. Published June 25, 2012
Mendelson will tackle campaign finance, education in D.C. Council
Newly appointed D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Monday he will tackle campaign finance and education reforms after the legislative body's recess from mid-July to mid-September. Published June 25, 2012
Investigation finds cheating at D.C. schools
Standardized test scores from three D.C. classrooms were invalidated because teachers helped students choose the right answers or flouted security protocols in April 2011. Published June 22, 2012
Leonsis: Flat screens on arena mean cash
Ted Leonsis told a D.C. Council committee on Wednesday that his controversial plan to put high-definition flat screens outside the Verizon Center could help teams inside the downtown arena lift the Stanley Cup or don championship rings one day. Published June 20, 2012
At-large races for D.C Council draw a crowd of non-Democrats
The field of candidates for the pair of at-large seats on the D.C. Council is taking shape, an uphill battle against incumbents Michael A. Brown, an independent, and Vincent B. Orange, who earned the Democrats' nomination in April. Published June 19, 2012
Gray administration hired new DHCD head despite scandal
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray's pick to lead the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development had an affair with a subordinate at his last job in Philadelphia but was hired anyway after an investigation debunked claims that he offered her preferential treatment, officials said. Published June 19, 2012
White House relents on D.C. school voucher bill
The Obama administration reversed course Monday and agreed to fully implement a controversial school voucher program that provides federal tuition assistance to a limited number of D.C. youths despite historically mixed opinion of the program among city leaders and the White House's own efforts to eliminate it. Published June 18, 2012
Gandhi formally reappointed D.C. CFO
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray formally transmitted his reappointment of the city's chief financial officer, Natwar M. Gandhi, to the D.C. Council on Friday, a move that had been widely anticipated, but is already facing criticism from some city lawmakers. Published June 15, 2012
D.C. files suit against employees accused of collecting two paychecks
The D.C. Office of the Attorney General filed suit against 13 former and current city employees accused of obtaining unemployment benefits while they were employed by the city government, officials said Thursday. Published June 14, 2012
Gandhi to be appointed for 5 more years as D.C. CFO
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray is poised to appoint the city's chief financial officer, Natwar M. Gandhi, to another five-year term as soon as Friday, according to multiple city hall sources familiar with the situation. Published June 14, 2012
Mendelson becomes interim D.C. Council chair
The D.C. Council chose veteran lawmaker Phil Mendelson on Wednesday to lead it as chairman until a Nov. 6 election to replace Kwame R. Brown in the wake of his resignation and guilty plea to fraud and campaign-finance charges. Published June 13, 2012
D.C. health department picks medical marijuana dispensaries
The D.C. Department of Health on Tuesday notified four applicants to the city's burgeoning medical marijuana program they are eligible to open a dispensary at their desired locations, one of the final steps necessary to begin the District's long-awaited effort to aid the sick and dying. Published June 12, 2012
D.C. Council poised to approve Mendelson as chairman
D.C. Council member Mary M. Cheh circulated a resolution on Tuesday that would make veteran city lawmaker Phil Mendelson the acting council chairman until city voters select a replacement this November for Kwame R. Brown, who abruptly resigned as chairman last week and admitted fraud and campaign finances charges. Published June 12, 2012
Nov. 6 special election allows D.C. to save money
The D.C. Board of Elections made the thrifty decision Monday to let voters select a replacement for disgraced former D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown on Nov. 6 - the same day voters cast their ballot for president and multiple council races. Published June 11, 2012
Former D.C. Council chairman pleads guilty to bank fraud
Former D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown softly uttered the word "guilty" in separate courthouses Friday and tearfully apologized to the District for committing bank fraud and authorizing unlawful campaign payments — admissions that contrasted with his defiant reminder that he never stole public funds. Published June 8, 2012
