The Hill Articles: March 16, 2009

Obama’s business policies: Balance or wedge? Dems press Specter to switch sides First lady has short time to define her public image GOP uneasy as allies stray on healthcare Obama plan would not block Bridge to Nowhere GOPers set aside their differences to combat Dems Republicans concerned over RNC fundraising Democrats offering ambitious agenda to firefighter union With Obama agenda, Palin in ’12 is change we’ll need Menendez’s early trek Labor bill a test for rising GOP star Crowded field, rough terrain await Simmons in Connecticut Senate race BlackBerry lobbying on patents Bottom Line Senators hope for ‘cramdown’ compromise Dems delay controversial mortgage bill GAO passport probe reveals security flaws DAY’S END ROUNDUP Special Report: Children’s Initiatives Murphy backs public funding for some abortions Obama urged not to chop copter altogether Nutritional programs proven to boost kids’ school attendance, performance Biden’s mom recovering for hip surgery The imperative of early education Ferris Bueller’s Congress takes the day off King stews over Senate run Meet the Lawmaker: Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) House pages vs. Senate pages: The Sharks and the Jets? Protect Access to Critical Nutrition Programs for Military Families (Sen. Mike Johanns) Tedisco would’ve voted ‘no’ on stimulus, and Democrats pounce Why Dianne Feinstein won’t run for governor Rendell did urge Specter to go Dem Tweet of the Day: Old habits die hard What Afghanistan needs Top Gun Jeopardized D.C. program shows promise of school-choice Experience spurs Down syndrome research advocacy Gibbs takes another swing at Limbaugh Anti-‘card check’ groups among those invited to the White House Monday Organizing for America goes into action Rendell: Dems have wooed Specter, unsuccessfully Gallup: Obama’s polling better than Bush, Clinton at mid-March Obama vs. AIG Pentagon to review Bush pay-for-performance program Dems to N.Y. party head: Hold off backing Gillibrand Hutchison losing ground in Texas primary? Shea-Porter not running for the Senate Alabama’s Love considers Bright rematch Palin Coming to D.C.! In Ten Years, Medical Marijuana Has Gone From Fringe to Mainstream — So Why Is It Still Against The Law? Two Californias: The ‘Real’ California and the ‘Real’ America Palin to keynote GOP lawmakers’ dinner Schock headed to NY-20 Sunday to aid Tedisco bid Shea-Porter decides against Senate run Poll: More think Obama is sliding leftward Obama vows to block AIG bonuses Pawlenty: GOP hasn’t made much progress in redefining itself (Video) Obama will try to block big AIG bonuses MIDDAY ROUNDUP Cornyn: I’m not seeing any results from the bailouts (Video) DSCC rolls out early attacks on Simmons Sanford strikes back at DNC, Obama Stop Wall Street Loan-Sharking (Sen. Bernie Sanders) DNC sets sights on Boehner in new ad Capitol Hill Agenda: March 16, 2009 Coleman not interested in RNC job, voices support for Steele GOP race crowds with chance to face Dodd Obama to tonight show Stock market, tax rates rank low as top economic concerns compared to employment Obama back to campaigning Rep. Berman gets a friendly challenger for 2010 From The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel — Originally published Monday, March 16 From the Portland Oregonian — Originally published Saturday, March 14 Chris Matthews Has Lost All Journalistic Credibility The Obama Slide Conrad: Long-term budget is ‘unsustainable’ When March Went Mad — Seth Davis’s Page-Turner on Magic vs. Larry Contest Frank: U.S. ‘rewarding incompetence’ at AIG (Video) Simmons to challenge Dodd Changing Fundamentals MORNING READ Drudge Report Huffington Post The Daily Beast firedoglake Daily Kos Right Wing News A fine border line between cartels, immigration debate A fine border line between cartels, immigration debate MyDD Former Rep. Simmons to take on Dodd RedState Ruling may not fill Minn. Senate seat Open Left The Corner