From this morning's Earlybird:

• Blue Dog Democrats, "who have become key brokers in shaping [health care] legislation in the House," have "set a record pace for fundraising this year... surpassing other congressional leadership PACs in collecting more than $1.1 million through June," the Washington Post reports. "More than half the money came from the health-care, insurance and financial services industries, marking a notable surge in donations from those sectors compared with earlier years, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity."

• "A Republican lawmaker who is President Barack Obama's pick to become the next secretary of the Army endured a tough grilling at Thursday's confirmation hearing from Sen. John McCain," The Hill reports. "Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), the former ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, fended off questions from McCain, the Arizona Republican and Obama's opponent in last year's presidential election, about campaign contributions from a defense-lobbying firm that is now under investigation for possible campaign finance violations."