Advocacy and lobbying stories from this week's National Journal: (subscription)

• Derivatives Fight Widens: The clash over the Obama administration's plans to regulate the $600 trillion derivatives market is heating up, and a new coalition of powerful trade groups has joined the critics -- much to the relief of several big Wall Street banks that had been waging a lonely and uphill lobbying effort, reports Peter Stone. Seven large trade associations, including the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, andthe U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recently formed the Coalition of Derivatives End Users.
• In Better Get Fit -- Or Else!, Julie Kosterlitz looks at how Safeway CEO Steve Burd has become a singularly effective evangelist in Washington for his company's approach to cutting health care costs.
• No Silver Bullets In Health Care: Bara Vaida looks at the National Pharmaceutical Council, a drug industry funded think tank that has focused on comparative effectiveness research in health care.
• In On The Move: Cristina Antelo, is now a principal with the Podesta Group. She previously worked as an associate at Goldman Sachs and as an analyst at JPMorgan Chase. The Hill this year listed her as one of its most beautiful. people.