What is Pork Barrel Politics and How Significant is it in Congress?
Point 1 - What is it
The term pork barrel politics refers to spending added onto bills, known as earmarks, , which is intended to
benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign
contributions or votes.
Typically, "pork" involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are
concentrated in a particular area but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers.
Due to the line item veto being struck down as unconstitutional the president down not have the ability to
remove pork.
EX: The Citizens Against Government Waste still identified over 9,000 pork projects costing $16.5 billion.
Flair: in 2014 there was a 10% drop in total earmarks compared to the previous year.
Point 2 - Significant - Incumbency:
Pork-barrel politics allows for many incumbent politicians to stay incumbent because they can generate pork
for their constituents
Seen in the high incumbency rating
It leads to a cycle where people elect their politicians because of pork and therefore remain incumbent.
EX: Thad Cochran ‘King of Pork’ sponsored/co-sponsored 243 different pork project + is one of the longest
serving senators (Senate Appropriations Committee)
Point 3 – Insignificant - Not in the National Interest
Many of the projects are concentrated in a specific district and thus have no benefit to the national interest
yet are paid by every tax payer.
EX: in 2008 the Gravina Island Bridge in Alaska was pushed for by Republican Senator Ted Stevens, cost $398
million yet only benefited around 50 people living on the island.
Flair - Recently, a ban on earmarks was created when Republicans took control of the House in 2010/11 and
now earmarks have been shifted to the federal bureaucracy where there is no transparency to it → Pork is
happening now but behind closed doors.
Point 1 - What is it
The term pork barrel politics refers to spending added onto bills, known as earmarks, , which is intended to
benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign
contributions or votes.
Typically, "pork" involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are
concentrated in a particular area but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers.
Due to the line item veto being struck down as unconstitutional the president down not have the ability to
remove pork.
EX: The Citizens Against Government Waste still identified over 9,000 pork projects costing $16.5 billion.
Flair: in 2014 there was a 10% drop in total earmarks compared to the previous year.
Point 2 - Significant - Incumbency:
Pork-barrel politics allows for many incumbent politicians to stay incumbent because they can generate pork
for their constituents
Seen in the high incumbency rating
It leads to a cycle where people elect their politicians because of pork and therefore remain incumbent.
EX: Thad Cochran ‘King of Pork’ sponsored/co-sponsored 243 different pork project + is one of the longest
serving senators (Senate Appropriations Committee)
Point 3 – Insignificant - Not in the National Interest
Many of the projects are concentrated in a specific district and thus have no benefit to the national interest
yet are paid by every tax payer.
EX: in 2008 the Gravina Island Bridge in Alaska was pushed for by Republican Senator Ted Stevens, cost $398
million yet only benefited around 50 people living on the island.
Flair - Recently, a ban on earmarks was created when Republicans took control of the House in 2010/11 and
now earmarks have been shifted to the federal bureaucracy where there is no transparency to it → Pork is
happening now but behind closed doors.
