Senators have tucked 3,245 earmarks, totaling $6.6 billion, into six government-funding bills so far this year. Now comes the hard part: enacting them into law.
Off the tail of the longest-ever government shutdown, lawmakers have established some momentum in pushing appropriations bills across the finish line. As part of the deal to reopen agencies, Congress approved three of the 12 annual government-funding bills. And earmarked funds, growing in popularity among Republican lawmakers, may grease the wheels for more measures.
Senators have yet to release or mark up three bills set to include more earmarks, covering Energy and Water, Financial Services, ...