From this morning's Earlybird:

• "Comcast Corp.'s intention to take over NBC Universal is expected to spark a lobbying frenzy on Capitol Hill as lawmakers prepare to hold hearings on the mega-deal," Roll Call (subscription) reports. "The Philadelphia-based cable provider has built up a formidable, bipartisan lobbying presence in Washington, D.C., that includes two dozen outside firms as well as a sizeable in-house team. In the first three quarters of this year, the company spent just more than $9 million on federal lobbying."

• "The pharmaceutical industry may have to cough up more than the $80 billion it agreed to contribute to President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort, reflecting pressure from Democrats and their supporters for more money to cover older and low-income people," AP reports. "Many Democrats believe the industry will profit when roughly 30 million uninsured Americans gain coverage for prescriptions."

• "A downtown advocacy group is trying to recast the meaning of the phrase, 'Who's your daddy?' Started more than a decade ago by a scorned husband, the American Coalition for Fathers and Children is readying itself for a lobbying campaign to pressure lawmakers to establish national paternity DNA testing requirements for children of unmarried parents," Roll Call (subscription) reports.