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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 15, 2015, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to examine IRS challenges in implementing the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

IRS’s John Koskinen on Tax Day: 120M have filed so far

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told Congress Wednesday that Obamacare's first dance with tax season has gone relatively smoothly and will only get better in coming years, despite horror stories about erroneous forms, surprisingly high tax penalties and faulty income estimates that forced some to pay back health-exchange subsidies.

April 15, 2015
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ky. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2015, following a Senate policy luncheon. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Senate passes Medicare overhaul, ending ‘doc fix’ ritual

The Senate rallied late Tuesday to pass a landmark Medicare overhaul that locks in doctors' rates while requiring wealthier seniors to pay more, erasing an awkward ritual in which Congress ignored scheduled provider cuts each year without funding a permanent fix.

April 14, 2015
Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat (Associated Press)

Senate faces deadline on medical funding bill

Senators return to work Monday facing an immediate deadline for a bill to avert major pay cuts for doctors who treat Medicare patients, but grumbling among conservative fiscal hawks and some liberals could force the Senate to miss the cutoff.

April 12, 2015
The House budget plan, written by Budget Chairman Tom Price, Georgia Republican, calls for spending $5.5 trillion less than currently projected over the next decade, while the Senate plan, written by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, would spent $5.1 trillion less — a difference analysts said should be easily bridged when the two chambers meet in a conference committee. (Associated Press)

Republicans work against deadline to pass budget; Obamacare hopes hang in balance

Congressional Republicans are likely to miss an April 15 deadline the law sets for passing a unified budget, with lawmakers set to return from a two-week break on April 13, with plenty of differences still to hash out between the House and Senate over everything from the size of spending cuts to revamping Medicare.

April 9, 2015
In this Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 photo, a laptop shows the HealthCare.com web site during an Affordable Care Act enrollment event at the Fort Worth Public Library in Fort Worth, Texas. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Health care coalition demands better data from Obamacare

Insurers, a tech company and advocacy groups banded together Thursday to demand that Obamacare provide better data to consumers on price and quality, saying it's easier to compare hotel rooms than it is to choose between health care plans.

April 9, 2015
Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, said the "doc fix" would cost taxpayers a net $141 billion over the next decade, and would bring Congress disrepute. (Associated Press)

Conservatives push back against Medicare ‘doc fix’

Conservatives are pressing GOP congressional leaders to scrap or alter the Medicare doctor payments deal they struck with Democrats last month, insisting that Congress at least find a way to pay for all of the reforms so taxpayers don't get stuck with higher bills or debt later this decade.

April 8, 2015
President Barack Obama speaks during his visit to Howard University in Washington, Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Obama visited the university's medical center to discuss the impact of climate change on public health and steps his administration is taking to reduce the health impacts of climate change on communities. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Obama: Health law deserves an ‘8’ out of 10

President Obama gives his signature health law an "8" on a scale from 1 to 10, saying there is still room to improve the 2010 overhaul that's been a political flashpoint since passage.

April 8, 2015
"Colorado's decision to 'legalize' marijuana and the federal government's subsequent decision to limit enforcement of federal law in Colorado have combined to cause harm in Kansas ...," Derek Schmidt, Kansas Attorney General, said. (associated press)

Colorado’s neighbors want to stop its marijuana trade

Colorado's decision to legalize marijuana is stirring the pot in Nebraska and Oklahoma, where top officials say they're dealing with spillover effects from their neighbor's bright-line breach of federal law.

April 2, 2015