Lobbyists’ earmarks and legislation that hitched a ride on a federal spending package are in question as a partial government shutdown at week’s end looks like a real possibility.
A collection of House-passed bills to fund federal agencies, including the departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, appeared poised for smooth passage in the Senate until last weekend’s killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota sparked a backlash to DHS, which includes immigration and border patrol.
The holdup is creating unease — and some opportunity — on K Street.
“Honestly, I thought we were done, but here we are,” ...