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

• "Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, who President Obama appointed as director of the White House Office of Health Care Reform on Monday, took home at least $2.4 million in 2006 and 2007 from serving on the corporate boards of health-care companies whose businesses she would be in a position to affect in her new position," the American Spectator reports.

• "The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal to strip from the omnibus spending bill a series of earmarks associated with a lobbying firm now under federal investigation, despite warnings from reformers that lawmakers would be forced to answer for their vote in the coming election cycle," Roll Call (subscription) reports.

• "For years, lobbyists have vied to bundle political contributions to score points with lawmakers," Roll Call (subscription) also reports. "That may change under new FEC rules that take effect in two weeks."