• "Washington's influence industry is on track to shatter last year's record $3.3 billion spent to lobby Congress and the rest of the federal government -- and that's with a down economy and about 1,500 fewer registered lobbyists in town, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics," Politico reports. "Many lobbying firms have escaped the worst of the corporate belt-tightening, thanks, in large part, to" Obama's "ambitious agenda."

• "Rep. Gary Ackerman (D) has erased an old debt, and he wants the record to show it: The New York lawmaker recently amended his 2005 financial disclosure report to show he had repaid a personal loan," Roll Call (subscription) reports.