From this morning's Earlybird:

• "The American Medical Association is opposing the Medicare 'doc fix' included in the tax extenders bill House Democrats are preparing," The Hill reports. "AMA argues the proposed fix to the Medicare payment system for physicians doesn't address the program's solvency issues and only pushes the problem five years down the road."

• "Unions are claiming credit for Sen. Blanche Lincoln's (D-Ark.) tough derivatives bill, saying their support for her primary challenger pushed her to the left," The Hill also reports.

• "Backed by Beltway-area Members, labor unions representing federal employees are pressing for temporary health insurance coverage for college-age students who will otherwise be thrown off their parents' health insurance plans when they turn 22 years old," Roll Call (subscription) reports.