Friday January 24, 2014
• OBJ: SWBAT determine whether earmarks
(pork barrel) helps or hurts government by
assessing both sides of the argument.
• Drill: What does this cartoon say about
earmarks/pork belly? How does this
represent local politics and how we feel about
our politicians.
• HW: Read the articles on political leaders and
committees, and summarize the main ideas in
each.
What does this cartoon say about earmarks/pork belly? How
does this represent local politics and how we feel about our
politicians?
Bringing Home the Bacon: Pork, Riders, Earmarks, and
Christmas Tree Bills
• Earmarking: The designation of a specific amount of funds
in an appropriations bill or a direct revenue source for a
particular project.
• Rider: is an additional provision annexed to a bill under the
consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the
subject matter of the bill. They are usually created as a tactic to
pass a controversial provision which would not pass as its own
bill.
• Christmas Tree Bill: A bill that attracts many, often
unrelated, floor amendments. A Christmas tree bill consists of
many riders.
• Pork barrel: Derogatory term describing government
spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician
in return for their political support.
Some Things to Consider
• Lack of transparency and secrecy of the
earmarking process has allowed corrupt
behavior, leading critics to label earmarks as
“pork barrel” spending that encourages
politicians to “bring home the bacon”
• Recent reforms require Congress members to
post their earmark requests on their websites
and sign a written statement renouncing any
financial benefit from earmark.
Some Things You May Not Have Known
• Earmarking Federal funding for local projects
began with Rep John C. Callhoun in 1817.
• Although the public criticizes earmarks for the
increasing size of the federal deficit,
Congressional budget earmarks only make up
a small amount of government spending.
• According to watchdog groups earmarks made
up $16.5 billion down from $56 billion in 2006
• New regulations have been put in place to
stop corruption.
$500,000
$30 million
$5.5 million
$200,000
$210,000
$350,000
$750,000
$350,000
$572 million
$1.6 Million
$950 Million
$50,000
$450,000
$250,000
$250,000
$5 million
$90,000
$202,500
$2 million
$750,000
$315,000
$1000,000
$270,000
$450,000
$360,000
$900,000
$200,000
$2.4 million
$3 million
Catfish Studies in Mississippi
Water/sewage projects in Alaska
Honey Bee research
Maxine Waters Employment Center
Swine Hoop Research in Iowa
Constructing the Railroad Hall of Fame
Improvements to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Sweet Potato Research
Water system improvements in WVA
Drainage projects in Illinois
Grasshopper and cricket control/Nevada+Utah
Shitake Mushroom Study
United States Soccer foundation to promote soccer
Wine Research Center—UC Davis
Oregon Beaver Management
McGruff the Crime Dog funding
Billingual audio tour for the National Cowgirl Museum
Construction of the National Peanut Festival Arena
Construction of the “First Tee” program, and initiative of the World Golf Foundation
For the Please Touch Museum in Philly
Formosan subterranean termite research
Renovation of Coca Cola Building
Potato storage research
Research on the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a citrus pest
Research on the uses of citrus waste
Building the Burpee Seep museum
Construction of a deer avoidance system
New subway station for the new Yankee stadium
Production of a documentary about infrastructure that demonstrates advancements in
Alaska
Byrd Droppings
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Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University
Robert C. Byrd Highway
Robert C. Byrd Federal Correctional Institution
Robert C. Byrd High School
Robert C. Byrd Freeway
Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism
Robert C. Byrd Science Center
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton
Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton
Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building (there are two)
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center
Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington
Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County
Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove
Robert C. Byrd Clinic at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University
o
R
The French Kiss
e Off Award
to Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for $211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France.
p
The Taxpayers Get Teed Off Award
r million for The First Tee in the defense appropriations bill.
to House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) for $3
e
The Cold Hard
Award
s Cash
to Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
for $165.7 million in defense pork.
e
The Tax Dollarsnon Drugs Award
to Representative John Murtha (D-Pa.) for $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center.
t
a
The Pantheont of Pork Award
to Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.VA) for $386 million in pork.
i
v
The Narcissist Award
to Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) efor $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for
Public
A Service.
n
The Pig in Sheep's
n Clothing Award
to Montana Senators Max Baucaus (D) and Jon Tester (D) for $148,950 for the
MontanaESheep Institute.
s
s
The Unidentified Fiscal
Object Award
to Representative Ann Esshoo (D-Calif.)
h for $1.6 million for the Allen Telescope Array.
o
The Money Doesn't Grow on Trees Award
o for $344,540 for the city of Chicago
to Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)
GreenStreets (Tree Planting Program.
D Bess Award
The Porky and
for $7.9 million for
- 36 theaters in 21 states.
C
The Pacific Fleeced Award
a
to Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
for $173.2 million in defense pork.
l
The Taxpayers Get
i Steamed Award
to Maine Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (R), and Rep. Thomas Allen (D-Maine) for $188,000 for the Lobster Institute.
f
. for Walking Award
This Pork Was Made
to Representative Virgil Goode (R-Va.) for $98,000
to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia.
)
f
The Return
o to Sender Award
to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for $196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic downtown Post Office in Las Vegas.
r
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1
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6
The Congressional Budget Earmarks Video
• Watch the video, while watching fill out the
viewing guide.
• Be prepared to discuss your answers at the
end.
Wrap Up
• Use the diagram on pork belly spending to
answer the question below.