The Hill Articles: September 16, 2009

Air Force to take over fuel tankers contract GOP lawmakers criticize Obama for snubbing Fox News Navy overhauls troubled ship program Cedar: a lot of flavor in a little space Linda McMahon joins Twitter Searching for wine tips on the Internet turns up sour grapes Sotomayor dances salsa, Solis talks healthcare For Va. and N.J. races, victory is in the spin GOP, Dem defectors on Wilson measure explain their votes Non-union, salaried workers shafted in U.S. deal with GM W.H. responds to ‘czar’ critiques House Dem factions entrench further with centrist-friendly Baucus bill Maverick conservative Quieting the health circus Family benefits from lawmakers’ campaigns: Chart DAY’S END ROUNDUP DNC calls Fox News an RNC arm McCain: Baucus bill just like previous ones Gibbs blasts GOP critics of Obama czars Gibbs: Protests are not about race White House thinks Baucus bill will change ‘Competition is good’: Abercrombie lobbies for second fighter engine Obama disagrees with ex-President Carter’s race comments Feingold questions Obama ‘czars’ CBO estimate: Baucus plan reduces deficit, covers 29 million by 2019 W.H. requests Rockefeller for meeting AFL-CIO: Baucus bill ‘absolutely fails’ Snowe: Baucus bill ‘moves in right direction’ TOP TWEETS Yes, we can have bipartisan healthcare reform this year Obama plans to reform economy, not just health insurance Sanford ‘came close’ to resigning Senators confident Gitmo prisoners not coming to Kansas Senate approves amendment to permit guns on Amtrak What’s missing from this press release? Grassley won’t shut door to supporting Baucus bill Romney to fundraise for McDonnell, mingle in DC Stupak threatens to block House healthcare bill Reid tweet: Must ‘scale back’ Medicaid spending in Baucus bill I’m mad at Obama, and I’m no racist The tiresome topic Pelosi hoping for changes to the Baucus proposal Blue Dogs praise Baucus bill House Blue Dog leader hails Baucus health bill Anti-NRSC fundraising drive sluggish Ayotte has early lead in NH poll The difference and similarity between Kanye West and Joe Wilson The truth about the Capps amendment (Rep. Lois Capps) Waters: Probe ‘birthers and the teabaggers’ at rallies for racist views MIDDAY ROUNDUP House ethics panel defers Jackson probe Issa, Smith want czar vetting info revealed Joe Wilson helps define Republican Party Enzi does not support Baucus bill DeLay challenges martial arts fighter on ‘Dancing with Stars’ Gates: Air Force to pick tanker fleet McCain attending Afghanistan briefing with W.H. officials NASA’s Future (Rep. Pete Olson) McConnell slams Baucus bill as partisan, nonsensical Carper: Healthcare surtax could affect plan holders Conrad praises Baucus bill, defends concessions to GOP Specter: Single-payer should be ‘on the table’ King gives Conyers an acorn, literally Baucus predicts broad support for $856B health bill despite criticism Congressman criticizes Carter racism claim Obama to meet with Colin Powell GOP should stick to values in the immigration debate (Rep. Lamar Smith) Rep. Blumenauer’s DOMA shift Bayh: Use anti-trust laws to fix healthcare Sanford ally wins legislative primary Buffett says economy has reached bottom Pence: Wilson outburst served ‘the broader national interest’ The distraction Baucus releases $856B health reform plan Steelman passes on 2010 bid Obama stumps in Pa. for Specter Beware the public option trap The girl who cried wolf Carter: Protests motivated by race Drudge Report Huffington Post Firedoglake Hot Air MyDD Red State MORNING READ WWE’s McMahon announces Dodd Senate challenge Afghanistan: War without honor Campaign update: Ohio Dems up, Specter up, McMahon in Memo defends Abramoff figure Family benefits from campaigns China tires a deal for steelworkers union Democrats divided over Waxman’s plan to grill insurance executives Cochran presses for faster appropriations pace Snowe falls away, leaving Senate Dems without GOP support on healthcare Obama woos blue-collar Rust Belt