AP: Honeywell International Inc. spent $1.7 million in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on biofuels to power aircraft, the budget and other bills. That was even with the amount the company spent in the same quarter last year and in the prior quarter. The defense industry faces uncertainty over the direction of Pentagon weapons spending. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken steps to tighten budgets and hold contractors more accountable for cost overruns. The …