Women in Line to Soon Control Congress’ Hobbled Spending Power

The powerful spending committees on Capitol Hill will almost certainly be led by women next year, a historic first with the potential to right the nation’s derailed government funding process.

“I hope the Senate Appropriations Committee rises from the ashes,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said of the impact women leaders will have on the panel, where he serves as a senior member. “I hope they will revive the traditional process and we’ll get bills moving again.”

With the committee’s top Democrat Patrick Leahy (Vt.) and Republican Richard Shelby (Ala.) both retiring, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins ...