From this morning's Earlybird:

• "Washington's biggest lobbying firm is on the verge of getting even bigger. Patton Boggs LLP, which rang up nearly $40 million in lobbying last year, is in negotiations to purchase the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group, according to sources familiar with the talks," the Washington Post reports.

• "Previously undisclosed e-mail messages turned over to the F.B.I. and Senate ethics investigators provide new evidence about" efforts by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., "to steer lobbying work to the embittered husband of his former mistress and could deepen his legal and political troubles," the New York Times reports.

• "Frustrated at seeing their legislative agenda stymied, unions are becoming increasingly active in competitive Democratic Senate primaries," The Hill reports. "Across the country, labor groups are using their organizational muscle early against candidates whom they see as having walked away from their agenda."