From this morning's Earlybird:

• "A tide of anger and dismay is rippling down K Street as the Obama administration implements a new policy limiting the roles of lobbyists on federal advisory committees," Roll Call (subscription) reports. "The policy change, described by the White House as the next step in President Barack Obama's drive to limit influence-peddling in Washington, could affect hundreds of lobbyists who serve on the panels, which were created by Congress in the 1970s to provide private-sector advice to the government."

• "Charlie Black, one of the best-known names in Washington consulting and lobbying over the past 29 years, told POLITICO that his lobbying shop will announce a merger Monday with Timmons and Co., one of the city's first stand-alone lobbying firms," Politico reports. "Black's firm, BKSH & Associates Worldwide, has about 30 people, and Timmons and Co. has about 10. The combined firm, to be called Prime Policy Group, will have 24 senior lobbyists: 13 Democrats and 11 Republicans."

• "The Democratic takeover on Capitol Hill happened more than two years ago, but K Street lobby shops are still feeling the pressure to turn left," Roll Call (subscription) reports. "While the number of all-Republican lobby shops has dwindled, firms that have made the switch to become bipartisan are still working to bring up the numbers of Democrats on their books. Navigators Global is the most recent example of a shop switching course. Navigators shed four senior Republican employees in recent weeks as the firm has focused its efforts to become more bipartisan."

• "Lobbyists are bracing themselves for the impending political fallout surrounding Sen. John Ensign, following allegations that the once-powerful Nevada Republican may have violated ethics rules in helping a former aide-turned-lobbyist secure business," Roll Call (subscription) reports. "Republicans on K Street quickly tried to tamp down any speculation that the recent accusations will lead Ensign to resign... Still, Ensign's near-pariah status on Capitol Hill has limited his usefulness to lobbyists, despite his positions on the powerful Finance Committee and Commerce, Science and Transportation panel. As Senate Republicans have largely benched Ensign, K Streeters have taken that as a cue to distance themselves from him, according to one veteran Republican lobbyist."