Summary:
“In Praise of Pork” is an insight from John Ellwood and Eric Patashnik into the complex practice of “pork barrel” spending in Congress. Pork spending happens when Congressmen add funding for a project in their district to a bill they know will pass. This practice is mainly to gain popularity with voters in a specific district. Many people blame pork barrel spending in Congress for the massive deficit right now. There have been many presidents who have urged Congress to cut back on pork barrel spending to help lower the deficit. However there has not been a decrease in pork spending. In actuality pork does not have a large role in the deficit in the government. Even though it is not a huge part of government spending some people think pork barrel spending is harmful to the government and to the American Public. Ellenwood and Patashnik on the other hand think that pork is an important factor of legislation.
Analysis:
Pork is one of many controversial practices of Congress however it is one that is very necessary. The main reason for pork barrel spending is for Congressmen to gain approval from their constituents. That is not the only effect that pork spending has in Congress. Sometimes pork is used to “sugar coat” a bill that is not very popular. Often times this happens with bills that will raise taxes or cut popular government programs. Unpopular bills like those would never get passed because the voters would never support them. However if a Congressman can get some pork for his or her district into the bill it becomes instantly more appealing and is more likely to pass. This is a very powerful tool that representatives in Congress use to pass bills. Another common use for pork is to gain votes from other Congressmen that may oppose the bill. One party could potentially get votes for a bill from the opposing party if pork is added to the bill to appease an opposing Congressman. Pork barrel spending is a powerful negotiating tool in Congress. It is far from a perfect system but pork is necessary to pass laws and appease voters.
Political Terms and Definitions:
· Pork – congressional spending on projects that bring money and jobs to particular states or districts to help the representative from that area get more support from their constituents.
· Deficit – in terms of the government the deficit is the amount of money we spend greater than the budget.
· Congress – Composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Legislative branch meaning congress is in charge of writing laws. 535 members of Congress. 100 Senators and 435 Representatives in the House.
“In Praise of Pork” is an insight from John Ellwood and Eric Patashnik into the complex practice of “pork barrel” spending in Congress. Pork spending happens when Congressmen add funding for a project in their district to a bill they know will pass. This practice is mainly to gain popularity with voters in a specific district. Many people blame pork barrel spending in Congress for the massive deficit right now. There have been many presidents who have urged Congress to cut back on pork barrel spending to help lower the deficit. However there has not been a decrease in pork spending. In actuality pork does not have a large role in the deficit in the government. Even though it is not a huge part of government spending some people think pork barrel spending is harmful to the government and to the American Public. Ellenwood and Patashnik on the other hand think that pork is an important factor of legislation.
Analysis:
Pork is one of many controversial practices of Congress however it is one that is very necessary. The main reason for pork barrel spending is for Congressmen to gain approval from their constituents. That is not the only effect that pork spending has in Congress. Sometimes pork is used to “sugar coat” a bill that is not very popular. Often times this happens with bills that will raise taxes or cut popular government programs. Unpopular bills like those would never get passed because the voters would never support them. However if a Congressman can get some pork for his or her district into the bill it becomes instantly more appealing and is more likely to pass. This is a very powerful tool that representatives in Congress use to pass bills. Another common use for pork is to gain votes from other Congressmen that may oppose the bill. One party could potentially get votes for a bill from the opposing party if pork is added to the bill to appease an opposing Congressman. Pork barrel spending is a powerful negotiating tool in Congress. It is far from a perfect system but pork is necessary to pass laws and appease voters.
Political Terms and Definitions:
· Pork – congressional spending on projects that bring money and jobs to particular states or districts to help the representative from that area get more support from their constituents.
· Deficit – in terms of the government the deficit is the amount of money we spend greater than the budget.
· Congress – Composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Legislative branch meaning congress is in charge of writing laws. 535 members of Congress. 100 Senators and 435 Representatives in the House.
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