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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. holds his copy of insurance premium statistics during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Obamacare battle: Americans divided on plan to repeal first, replace later: Poll

The American public remains deeply divided over Obamacare, but only 1 in 5 back a Republican plan first to repeal the law, then to come up with a replacement, according to a timely poll that says most people want Congress to have a firm alternative in hand before it pulls the plug on the existing system.

January 6, 2017
From left, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chair of the House Republican Conference, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, following a closed-door meeting with the GOP caucus to discuss repeal of President Obama's health care law now that the GOP is in charge of White House and Congress. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

GOP wins first Obamacare fight in Senate budget vote

Republicans won the first skirmish in the Obamacare repeal fight Wednesday, voting to begin debate on fast-track procedures that would allow them to kill the 2010 health law without having to face a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

January 4, 2017
Vice President-elect Mike Pence speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Mike Pence: Donald Trump ready to use pen to ease Obamacare transition

House Republicans emerged from a meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence Wednesday pledging to repeal and replace Obamacare in an orderly way, even signaling that Donald Trump is ready and willing to use his pen to stabilize the transition to a new program.

January 4, 2017
Mylan had raised the price from $100 for an EpiPen twin pack in 2009 to more than $600 in 2016. (Associated Press)

EpiPen price outrage could bring more changes under Donald Trump

Congressional outrage over the soaring cost of EpiPens paved the way for massive civil settlement and a half-price generic alternative to hit the market, but the GOP senator who led the push says there's more work to do in a Trump administration, as Americans continue to suffer from climbing drug prices across the board.

January 2, 2017
Health workers wearing protective gear wait to carry the body of a person suspected to have died from Ebola in Monrovia, Liberia, on Oct. 13, 2014. (Associated Press)

Ebola vaccine fast-tracked after proven 100% effective in trials

Scientists battling the deadly Ebola virus are poised for a breakthrough in the new year after an experimental vaccine shot proved to be 100-percent effective during a trial in West Africa and received fast-track status from the Food and Drug Administration.

January 1, 2017
Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaks during a rally for President-elect Donald Trump at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in West Allis, Wis. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

House GOP wants to fine members who live-stream from chamber

House GOP leadership wants to punish lawmakers who photograph or live-stream events from the chamber floor, a response to the Democrats' 1960s-style protest over gun control last June that disrupted legislative business and votes.

December 27, 2016
Mourners placed flowers at a makeshift memorial Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, near where a driver suspected of being intoxicated hit a group of pedestrians and another car outside a church as a Christmas service ended Wednesday night in Redondo Beach, Calif. Three people were killed and several others were injured including five children, police said. Margo Bronstein, 56, was arrested after the crash on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, Redondo Beach police Lt. Shawn Freeman said. (Associated Press) **FILE**

HHS data: Driving while intoxicated on a steady decline

The share of Americans driving under the influence is steadily declining, the government said Tuesday in a report that nonetheless finds tens of millions of adults still get behind the wheel after using drugs or alcohol.

December 27, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump dismissed the Export-Import Bank on the campaign trail as "featherbedding" for politicians and huge companies that don't need the help. (Associated Press)

Donald Trump may deal death blow to Ex-Im Bank

President-elect Donald Trump will step into a congressional civil war over the fate of the Export-Import Bank next year, caught between Democrats and Republican centrists who say the headstrong mogul can use the government-chartered lender to put "America first" and conservatives who say it is time for the agency to fade into oblivion.

December 26, 2016
In this Oct. 19, 2016, photo, Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell speaks during a news conference at the HHS in Washington. The Obama administration says 6.4 million people have signed up so far this year for subsidized private insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov. Despite rising premiums, dwindling insurers, and a Republican vow to repeal Obamacare, enrollment is running ahead of last years pace. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

HHS touts ‘record’ Obamacare signups amid headwinds

Signups on the federal Obamacare website are outpacing last year's, enthusing Obama administration officials who said political headwinds and "doomsday predictions" haven't scared off Americans who could benefit from the program in 2017.

December 21, 2016
House Science Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in this June 7, 2012, file photo. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

House GOP accuses Energy Dept. of political intimidation

The administration fired one of its employees for telling the truth to Congress, GOP lawmakers charged Tuesday, saying President Obama's political appointees were upset she backed a radiation program popular on Capitol Hill but which the Energy Department had wanted to ax.

December 20, 2016