Tom Howell Jr.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants unemployment pay for federal workers

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging the Trump administration to reconsider its refusal to make unemployment insurance available to federal workers who are still on the job amid the shutdown, yet missed their last paycheck and could miss another.

January 20, 2019

Trump admin. approves Arizona’s request to condition Medicaid on work

The Trump administration approved Arizona's request to attach work requirements to Medicaid coverage, making it the eighth state to condition benefits on seeking a job, going to school or otherwise engaging in the community.

January 18, 2019

DC mayor, California governor blast Labor Department’s shutdown guidance

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging the Trump administration to reconsider its refusal to make unemployment insurance available to federal workers who are still on the job amid the shutdown, yet missed their last paycheck and could miss another.

January 18, 2019

More government employees being put back to work during shutdown

The State Department said Thursday it has found enough cash to recall most of its employees and to pay them at least one check during the partial government shutdown, adding a new dimension to President Trump's piecemeal plan to blunt the pain.

January 17, 2019

Court postpones lawsuit over shutdown — because of the shutdown

A federal judge froze proceedings Wednesday in a lawsuit that seeks back pay and damages for essential employees forced to work without paychecks during the government shutdown.

January 16, 2019

Treasury union blasts IRS labor recall amid shutdown

A Treasury employee union says the "mass call back" of tens of thousands of workers for the tax-filing season is exactly why it's suing to prevent the administration from forcing members to work "in exchange for only an IOU."

January 16, 2019

IRS recalls major swath of workforce for filing season

Facing tax-filing season, the IRS will recall tens of thousands of employees to work without pay amid the government shutdown, according to a contingency plan released Tuesday.

January 15, 2019

Judge declines to grant immediate pay, other relief to workers in throes of gov’t shutdown

A judge on Tuesday refused to order the Trump administration to pay federal employees kept on the job during the partial shutdown, as the IRS said it was bringing back tens of thousands of employees to process tax returns.

January 15, 2019

Federal judge blocks Trump’s birth control rules nationwide

A federal judge Monday temporarily blocked President Trump's push to exempt a range of companies and religious nonprofits from an Obama-era mandate to insure birth control or submit their objections in writing.

January 14, 2019

House investigators launch probe of soaring drug prices

House Democrats launched a broad probe Monday into high prescription drug costs, saying the rapid rise in prices is "unsustainable" and soaking taxpayers and patients alike.

January 14, 2019

Seven in 10 say health care system is in ‘crisis’ or has ‘major problems’: Poll

Seven in 10 Americans say the U.S. health care system is "in a state of crisis" or has "major problems," according to a Gallup poll that also finds partisanship has colored people's views of the system over the past decade.

January 14, 2019

Trump rules letting employers opt out of birth control coverage blocked

Judge blocks Trump administration rules letting more employers opt out of birth control coverage.

January 13, 2019

Air traffic controllers add to pile of shutdown lawsuits

Air traffic controllers Friday joined the ranks of federal employees suing over the government shutdown, after workers keeping vigil over their bank accounts didn't receive a cent on payday.

January 11, 2019

Judge: Federal employees suing over government shutdown cannot remain anonymous

A judge has ordered five federal employees suing President Trump and agency leaders over the partial government shutdown to use their real names, instead of pseudonyms, as the case proceeds.

January 11, 2019

CDC: 6-7 million have gotten flu this season; Tens of thousands hospitalized

An estimated 6 million to 7 million people in the U.S. have been sickened by flu this season, the government said Friday in its first-ever mid-season report on key statistics.

January 11, 2019

‘Essential’ workers expect to miss paychecks, sue for damages

The largest federal employee union on Thursday accused the government of violating labor law by failing to process paychecks for 420,000 "essential" workers who are toiling amid the partial government shutdown.

January 10, 2019

Kyrsten Sinema, Republicans move to repeal Obamacare tax on insurers

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a freshman Democrat, and two Republicans filed a bill Thursday that would repeal Obamacare's tax on health insurers, saying the levy increases premiums and should be scrapped permanently.

January 10, 2019

Bernie Sanders: U.S. consumers must pay fairer prices for drugs

Liberal lawmakers released a package of bills Thursday designed to test Washington's appetite for novel ways to control runaway drug costs, saying U.S. consumers are getting stiffed by prices that are far higher than what other countries pay.

January 10, 2019

House votes to intervene in Obamacare lawsuit

The House voted along party lines Wednesday to intervene in an lawsuit that threatens to kill off Obamacare, as Democrats tried to paint the GOP into a corner over its professed support for shielding people with preexisting conditions.

January 9, 2019

Chuck Grassley to scrutinize health mergers, will protect farmers and GOP tax bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley said Wednesday he will oppose any attempts by Democrats to roll back the GOP's 2017 tax reforms and scrutinize whether blockbuster health care mergers are harming consumers.

January 9, 2019