Pork barrel

Pork barrel (or pork barrel politics) is a derogatory term describing government spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes. Typically it involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are concentrated in a particular area, but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers. Public works projects and agricultural subsidies are the most commonly cited examples, but they do not exhaust the possibilities. Pork barrel spending is often allocated through last-minute additions to appropriations bills.

Related Topics:
Derogatory - Term - Government - Constituent - Politician - Campaign contributions - Economic - Public works - Agricultural subsidies - Appropriations

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One of the earliest examples of pork barrel politics in the United States was the Bonus Bill of 1817, which was introduced by John Calhoun to construct highways linking the East and South of the United States to its Western frontier using the earnings bonus from the Second Bank of the United States. Calhoun argued for it using general welfare and post roads clauses of the United States Constitution. Although he approved of the economic development goal, President James Madison vetoed the bill as unconstitutional. Since then, however, U.S. presidents have seen the political advantage of pork barrel politics.

Related Topics:
United States - Bonus Bill - John Calhoun - Highways - Western frontier - Second Bank of the United States - United States Constitution - James Madison - Unconstitutional - U.S. presidents

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In recent years, a famous pork barrel project is the Interstate 99 designation that was written into law by Pennsylvania Representative Bud Shuster. The number was disputed by road scholars, who envisioned it as a number for a new freeway running along the Atlantic coast. I-99's location is a violation of the Interstate system's numbering rules, as it is located west of Interstate 81 and seven other Interstates whose numerical value is less than 99.

Related Topics:
Interstate 99 - Pennsylvania - Bud Shuster - Freeway - Atlantic coast - Interstate 81

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The term was first used in print by E.K. Hale for his story called "Pork Barrel", published in 1865 by Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. It is derived from the practice of slaveowners giving barrels of salted pork to slaves and watching the "feeding frenzy" the slaves subsequently engaged in. http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/001153.html

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Pork barrel projects or "earmarks" are added to the federal budget by members of the appropriation committees of Congress. This allows delivery of federal funds to the local district or state of the appropriation committee member, often accommodating major campaign contributors. To a certain extent a congressman or congresswoman is judged by their ability to deliver funds to their constituents. The Chairman and the Ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations are in a position to deliver significant benefits to their states. Likewise a Representative such as Anne M. Northup (R-Ky.), a Republican first elected in 1995 from the previously Democratic 3rd Congressional district (Louisville, Kentucky), through her appointment as a freshman member to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, was able to deliver significant financial benefits to her district.

Related Topics:
Earmark - Ranking member - U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations - Anne M. Northup - Louisville, Kentucky - U.S. House Committee on Appropriations

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A recent effort to fight pork barrel spending was the Porkbusters projected initiated by conservative bloggers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Related Topics:
Porkbusters - Conservative - Bloggers - Hurricane Katrina

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