Top lobbying stories from EarlyBird, NationalJournal.com's daily news roundup:

• "Firms receiving billions of dollars in government bailout money have continued to contribute large sums to political campaigns," The Hill reports. "The eight largest banks' political action committees (PACs) spent roughly $225,000, not including operating expenses, between Nov. 25 and the end of January, according to a review of year-end and February filings with the Federal Election Commission."

• "Will Citigroup's heavyweight lobbying team soon go the way of its counterparts at Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and American International Group?" Roll Call (subscription) reports. "Not according to the banking giant's chief lobbyist, Nicholas Calio, who says despite the recent cash infusions of government money, it's business as usual for his lobby team."

• "In the midst of a deepening economic recession, the Republican Party is turning a cold shoulder to one of its closest allies: business," the Politico reports. "When the Obama administration announced last week that it would come to the rescue of Citigroup, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) denounced the move as 'corporate welfare.'"