This document discusses congressional earmarks, also known as pork barrel spending. It provides background on earmarks, such as how they direct funds to specific projects in a member's district. It also discusses how earmarks allow representatives to "bring home the bacon" or direct funds to benefit their districts. The document examines arguments for and against earmarks, including concerns about wasteful spending but also that earmarks can support important local projects. It explores alternatives like limiting earmark amounts or requiring more transparency and oversight of the earmark process.

1. Congressional Earmarks
Should We Bring Home the Bacon?

2. 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?

3. Pork Barrel Spending
Earmark- 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.

4. 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 BarrelSpendingcont.
•From early American history
•Slaves were given a barrel of salt port as a
reward
•Slaves competed amongst themselves for
the handout

5. Pork Barrel Spending

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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.

9. Bonus Bill of 1817
Does 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?

10. In fiscal year 2008, there
were 11,524 earmarks
totaling $16,501,833,000
for appropriations
accounts.

11. 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

12. 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: