Congressional Earmarks

Should We Bring Home the Bacon?

Who Likes Bacon?

Who likes bacon? Is bacon always good for you? What are some alternatives for bacon? What would happen if you ate bacon all day, everyday? What recommendations would you make to people who

are considering adding bacon to their diets?

Pork Barrel SpendingEarmark- a congressional provision that

directs sets aside funds to be spent on specific projects within a member’s district.

•From hog slaughtering houses.

•Distinguishes the pigs selected for specific purposes.

•Is a notch in the pigs ear.

Pork Barrel- legislation that allows representatives to bring home the bacon to their districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs designed to directly benefit their districts.

Pork Barrel Spending cont.

•From early American history

•Slaves were given a barrel of salt port as a reward

•Slaves competed amongst themselves for the handout

Pork Barrel Spending

The “Prince of Pork” Due to his position on the

Senate Appropriations Committee and his leadership as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Robert Byrd (D-WV) is known as the “Prince of Pork” for his ability to bring home the bacon in the form of public works projects to West Virginia.

Bringing Home the Bacon? Who is the pig? Why is he

happy? What does the pot-o-gold

represent? Why is the

leprechaungressman lucky?

What is the artist saying about congressional spending? How do you know?

Should congressman bring home the bacon?

Bonus Bill of 1817 Introduced by John C. Calhoun

in 1817. The purpose of the bill was to

direct surplus funds from the Bank of the United States to internal improvements, such as roads.

Calhoun introduced the bill as part of Henry Clay’s American System. Clay designed the system to create internal improvements within states.

President James Madison vetoed the bill. This was due to his strict constructivism.

Bonus Bill of 1817Does this seem like a good idea?Is paying for roads and other infrastructure

the responsibility of Congress?Based on the evidence, why did James

Madison veto the bill?Why do you think that other

administrations approved the practice?

In fiscal year 2008, there were 11,524 earmarks

totaling $16,501,833,000 for appropriations

accounts.

The Pros and Cons of Congressional Earmarks

Task: Research the Pros and Cons of Earmarking and provide some compromises that might address the concerns regarding earmarks.

Sites to start with:

Sourcewatch: www.sourcewatch.com

Sunlight Foundation: www.sunlightfoundation.com/earmarksFAQ/

Earmark Watch: http://earmarkwatch.org/faq

Citizens Against Government Waste: www.cagw.org

Office of Management and Budget: www.whitehouse.gov/omb

Congressional Budget Office: www.cbo.gov

Citizens for Progress in Government: www.citizensforprogress.org

Debate: Should Congress Bring Home the Bacon?

•Congressional earmarking should remain in its current form

•Congressmen should be limited in the amount of earmarking they may request

•Congress should review all earmark legislation independently of the bill it is attached to, and in public.

•All Congressional earmarking should be prohibited

•Only earmarks voted on by the entire house may be approved.

Other Ideas: