Tom Howell Jr.

IRS assures no privacy violated as it lures new customers to Obamacare

The IRS is plowing ahead with controversial plans to use its files to try to prod more people to sign up for Obamacare -- but the tax agency has promised Congress it won't break any privacy laws.

November 27, 2016

Republican advantage numbers in Senate hinge on Louisiana runoff

Democrats have insisted that they will push to win the only outstanding Senate race in the country -- a Dec. 10 runoff election in Louisiana -- but it appears to be trending toward the Republican candidate, which would give the party an effective 52-48 majority next year.

November 24, 2016

Zika virus microcephaly can develop after birth: CDC study

The Zika virus can still cause severe defects in babies months after their births, scientists said Tuesday, issuing a grim warning to parents who thought they were in the clear once an infected mother gave birth.

November 22, 2016

House asks appeals court to hold off on Obamacare payments lawsuit

Attorneys for the House of Representatives have asked a federal appeals court to put their lawsuit over certain Obamacare payments on ice until President-elect Donald Trump enters office and decides how he wants to proceed.

November 22, 2016

Zika funding fight costly for Democrats in 2016 election

Rep. Tim Ryan says Democrats made a mistake by focusing so heavily on the Zika fight this summer, picking a parochial political battle over an issue that turned out not to be the disaster they'd been counting on.

November 21, 2016

Chuck Schumer vows to work with Trump but won’t compromise on climate change, repealing Obamacare

Leading Senate Democrats on Sunday said they will not oppose President-elect Donald Trump's agenda just for the sake of it and will help him lift up workers who feel abandoned by Washington, yet they drew a red line on any efforts to repeal Obamacare, erode climate protections or push measures that smack of bigotry.

November 20, 2016

Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator: Trump should lift up workers, but ‘no compromise’ on bigotry

Bernard Sanders said there will be "no compromise" with President-elect Donald Trump on climate change or issues that smack of bigotry.

November 20, 2016

Reince Priebus: Trump administration not interested in registry of Muslims

Reince Priebus on Sunday rejected the idea of registering people based on their religious beliefs -- a fear among progressives, given President-elect Donald Trump's rhetoric on Muslims.

November 20, 2016

VP-elect Mike Pence: All is well in Trump transition

Mike Pence said Sen. Jeff Sessions will be confirmed as attorney general and President-elect Donald Trump is bringing "energy" and "leadership" to a busy round of meetings.

November 20, 2016

Charles Schumer, New York senator: Dems will vet Sessions, other Trump picks ‘very, very carefully’

Charles E. Schumer vowed Sunday to scrutinize President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks "very, very carefully" during the confirmation process.

November 20, 2016

VP-elect Mike Pence brushes off ‘Hamilton’ flap

Mike Pence on Sunday said he "wasn't offended" after the Broadway cast of "Hamilton" decided to address him directly from the stage.

November 20, 2016

Pat Toomey wins reelection in Pa. after nervous race

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey won reelection Tuesday after months of heartburn over his button-lipped stance on Donald Trump, allowing Senate Republicans to hold their chamber majority.

November 9, 2016

Republicans retain control of Senate with Pat Toomey win in Pennsylvania

After months of fretting about a tough electoral map, Republicans kept control of the House and Senate as they successfully defended a number of vulnerable seats Tuesday night.

November 9, 2016

Catherine Cortez Masto wins in Nevada, keeping Harry Reid’s Senate seat blue

Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democratic former attorney general for Nevada, bested GOP congressman Joe Heck in the battle to replace Sen. Harry Reid, killing off Republican hopes to flip the seat from red to blue on an otherwise successful night for Republicans clinging to their majority.

November 9, 2016

Josh Gottheimer topples E. Scott Garrett, House Freedom Caucus member, in New Jersey

Democrats toppled longtime Republican congressman E. Scott Garrett in northern New Jersey on Tuesday by recruiting a strong challenger and crafting a narrative around the incumbent that sapped his financial support.

November 9, 2016

Paul Ryan thanks hometown supporters on pivotal night for GOP

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan thanked his supporters for re-electing him to his Wisconsin seat and signaled that it would be a "really good night for America," as the GOP remained on track to keep control of the House and Senate, and as Donald Trump won key battleground states.

November 8, 2016

John Faso defeats progressive champion Zephyr Teachout in N.Y.

Republican nominee John Faso, a lawyer and former New York assemblyman, defeated progressive champion Zephyr Teachout on Tuesday to keep a Hudson Valley seat in GOP hands.

November 8, 2016

Michael Bennet holds his seat in Colorado

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet retained his seat in Colorado late Tuesday even as his party appeared poised to lose its battle for the chamber.

November 8, 2016

Ron Johnson wins in Wisconsin, closing off Dems’ route to outright Senate majority

Sen. Ron Johnson won re-election late Tuesday over Russ Feingold in Wisconsin, capping a remarkable come-from-behind win that closed off Democrats' chances of winning the chamber outright.

November 8, 2016

Sen. Richard Burr overcomes stiff challenge in NC; Democrats Senate chances narrowing

Republican Sen. Richard Burr won reelection in North Carolina on Tuesday, fending off former state lawmaker Deborah Ross in a race that was tighter than anyone expected when the 2016 cycle kicked off.

November 8, 2016