The D.C. insider paper, Roll Call, reported this afternoon that House Majority Leader Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-MD), says he "expects" Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA, 6) to takeover as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which will oversee $650 billion in spending this year to contractors like Boeing.

The Seattle Times had a good summary

this morning on Rep. Dicks' likely ascension the powerful position. Former chair, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), died on Monday.