Congress at WorkCongress at Work

Pork Barrels and EarmarksPork Barrels and Earmarks

►Objectives: to develop an Objectives: to develop an understanding of Pork Barrels and understanding of Pork Barrels and EarmarksEarmarks

►Question: when does the V.P. get to Question: when does the V.P. get to vote in the Senate?vote in the Senate?

Who is this?Who is this?

I’m so confused! I’m so confused! If the opposite of If the opposite of ““propro” is “” is “concon,” ,” does that mean does that mean

that the opposite that the opposite of of progressprogress is is

CongressCongress??

Types of billsTypes of bills

►Private bills – deal with individual Private bills – deal with individual people or placespeople or places

►Public bills – deal with general matters Public bills – deal with general matters and apply to the entire nationand apply to the entire nation Vast majority of billsVast majority of bills More controversial because they affect More controversial because they affect

everyoneeveryone

ResolutionsResolutions

► Used to make policy on an unusual or Used to make policy on an unusual or temporary mattertemporary matter

► Simple resolution-covers matters affecting Simple resolution-covers matters affecting only on house of Congress and passed by that only on house of Congress and passed by that house alone (rules, procedures, internal house alone (rules, procedures, internal matters)matters)

► Joint resolution – Passed in same form by both Joint resolution – Passed in same form by both houses; if signed by Pres., has force of law; houses; if signed by Pres., has force of law; used to correct error in earlier law or used to correct error in earlier law or appropriate money for specific purposeappropriate money for specific purpose

► Concurrent resolution – requires action by Concurrent resolution – requires action by both houses, but not law related and has no both houses, but not law related and has no force of law with Pres. signatureforce of law with Pres. signature

Congressional EarmarksCongressional Earmarks

Should We Bring Home the Bacon?Should We Bring Home the Bacon?

Who Likes Bacon?Who Likes Bacon?

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

considering adding bacon to their diets?considering adding bacon to their diets?

Pork Barrel SpendingPork Barrel Spending Earmark- a congressional provision that Earmark- a congressional provision that

directs sets aside funds to be spent on specific directs sets aside funds to be spent on specific projects within a member’s district.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 Pork Barrel- legislation that allows representatives to bring home the bacon to their representatives to bring home the bacon to their districts in the form of public works programs, districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs designed to military bases, or other programs designed to directly benefit their districts.directly benefit their districts.

Pork Barrel Spending cont.

•From early American history

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

•Slaves competed amongst themselves for the handout

Pork Barrel SpendingPork Barrel Spending

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

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

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

happy?happy? What does the pot-o-gold What does the pot-o-gold

represent?represent? Why is the Why is the

leprechaungressman leprechaungressman lucky?lucky?

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

Should congressman bring Should congressman bring home the bacon?home the bacon?

In fiscal year 2008, there In fiscal year 2008, there were 11,524 earmarks were 11,524 earmarks

totaling $16,501,833,000 totaling $16,501,833,000 for appropriations for appropriations

accounts.accounts.

RidersRiders

►Riders – attached to bills and have Riders – attached to bills and have nothing to do with subject of bill, nothing to do with subject of bill, added to bills that are likely to pass added to bills that are likely to pass (“like a Christmas tree loaded with (“like a Christmas tree loaded with ornaments”ornaments”

Discretionary v. Non-Discretionary v. Non-discretionary spendingdiscretionary spending

►More than 70% of appropriations each More than 70% of appropriations each year is mandated by earlier laws, not new year is mandated by earlier laws, not new onesones Current Congress has no discretion on how Current Congress has no discretion on how

much money is appropriated in these cases; much money is appropriated in these cases; only way to change is to pass new laws to only way to change is to pass new laws to change old oneschange old ones

Many of these are called entitlements – social Many of these are called entitlements – social welfare programs that entitle individuals to welfare programs that entitle individuals to certain benefits (ex. Social Security, Medicare)certain benefits (ex. Social Security, Medicare)

Biggest Pork Projects?Biggest Pork Projects?►The “Bridge to Nowhere” (Alaska)The “Bridge to Nowhere” (Alaska)

$396 M to connect 50 residents to mainland$396 M to connect 50 residents to mainland $7.9 M per person$7.9 M per person funding later repealed; bridge never builtfunding later repealed; bridge never built

►The “Big Dig” (Boston, Mass.)The “Big Dig” (Boston, Mass.) $14.6 B for 3.5 miles of tunnel$14.6 B for 3.5 miles of tunnel $1 M per foot$1 M per foot most costly construction project in historymost costly construction project in history

►$107,000 to study the sex life of the $107,000 to study the sex life of the Japanese quail. Japanese quail.

► $1.2 million to study the breeding habits of $1.2 million to study the breeding habits of the woodchuck. the woodchuck.

► $150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud. $150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud.

► $84,000 to find out why people fall in love. $84,000 to find out why people fall in love. ► $1 million to study why people don't ride $1 million to study why people don't ride

bikes to work. bikes to work.

►$19 million to examine gas emissions from cow $19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence. flatulence.

► $144,000 to see if pigeons follow human $144,000 to see if pigeons follow human economic laws. economic laws.

► Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling alleys. alleys.

► $219,000 to teach college students how to watch $219,000 to teach college students how to watch television. television.

► $2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian $2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian canoe. canoe.

►$160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by $160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by drawing an X on his chest. drawing an X on his chest.

► $800,000 for a restroom on Mt. McKinley. $800,000 for a restroom on Mt. McKinley. ► $100,000 to study how to avoid falling $100,000 to study how to avoid falling

spacecraft. spacecraft. ► $16,000 to study the operation of the komungo, $16,000 to study the operation of the komungo,

a Korean stringed instrument. a Korean stringed instrument. ► $1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as $1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as

a historic monument. a historic monument. ► $6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce. $6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce.

Pork barrel and logrollingPork barrel and logrolling

►Logrolling – when two or more Logrolling – when two or more lawmakers agree to support each lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills in exchange for votesother’s bills in exchange for votes

Final 5Final 5

►Explain what an earmark is, and give Explain what an earmark is, and give an example.an example.

December 11, 2012December 11, 2012► No First 5No First 5► Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress ► Move into the House and SenateMove into the House and Senate► Speaker of the House will determine which committees Speaker of the House will determine which committees

go in what ordergo in what order► V.P. and Pres. Pro Tempore will determine in the SenateV.P. and Pres. Pro Tempore will determine in the Senate► Bills that pass go to the opposite chamber for debate Bills that pass go to the opposite chamber for debate

and/or passageand/or passage► You get points for contribution- make sure that you are You get points for contribution- make sure that you are

asking questions like how much it costs? When will it be asking questions like how much it costs? When will it be finished/how long is it for? Where will the money come finished/how long is it for? Where will the money come from to pay for it? Who does it affect? Etc…from to pay for it? Who does it affect? Etc…

Today’s exitToday’s exit

►What did you learn today from What did you learn today from Congress?Congress?

►How important is it to have clear How important is it to have clear information in the bill? Why? information in the bill? Why?

►What bill was written the most What bill was written the most thorough today?thorough today?

December 12, 2012December 12, 2012

► Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress ►Move into the House and SenateMove into the House and Senate►Finish passing billsFinish passing bills/Bills that pass go to the /Bills that pass go to the

opposite chamber for debate and/or passage- opposite chamber for debate and/or passage- then to me.then to me.

►You get points for contribution- make sure You get points for contribution- make sure that you are asking questions like how much that you are asking questions like how much it costs? When will it be finished/how long is it it costs? When will it be finished/how long is it for? Where will the money come from to pay for? Where will the money come from to pay for it? Who does it affect? Etc…for it? Who does it affect? Etc…