Friday January 24, 2014

1. Friday January 24, 2014 • OBJ: SWBAT determine whether earmarks (pork barrel) helps or hurts government by assessing both sides of the argument. • Drill: What does this cartoon say about earmarks/pork belly? How does this represent local politics and how we feel about our politicians. • HW: Read the articles on political leaders and committees, and summarize the main ideas in each.

2. What does this cartoon say about earmarks/pork belly? How does this represent local politics and how we feel about our politicians?

3. Bringing Home the Bacon: Pork, Riders, Earmarks, and Christmas Tree Bills • Earmarking: The designation of a specific amount of funds in an appropriations bill or a direct revenue source for a particular project. • Rider: is an additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill. They are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision which would not pass as its own bill. • Christmas Tree Bill: A bill that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. A Christmas tree bill consists of many riders. • Pork barrel: Derogatory term describing government spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support.

4. Some Things to Consider • Lack of transparency and secrecy of the earmarking process has allowed corrupt behavior, leading critics to label earmarks as “pork barrel” spending that encourages politicians to “bring home the bacon” • Recent reforms require Congress members to post their earmark requests on their websites and sign a written statement renouncing any financial benefit from earmark.

5. Some Things You May Not Have Known • Earmarking Federal funding for local projects began with Rep John C. Callhoun in 1817. • Although the public criticizes earmarks for the increasing size of the federal deficit, Congressional budget earmarks only make up a small amount of government spending. • According to watchdog groups earmarks made up $16.5 billion down from $56 billion in 2006 • New regulations have been put in place to stop corruption.

6. $500,000 Catfish Studies in Mississippi $30 million Water/sewage projects in Alaska $5.5 million Honey Bee research $200,000 Maxine Waters Employment Center $210,000 Swine Hoop Research in Iowa $350,000 Constructing the Railroad Hall of Fame $750,000 Improvements to the Baseball Hall of Fame $350,000 Sweet Potato Research $572 million Water system improvements in WVA $1.6 Million Drainage projects in Illinois $950 Million Grasshopper and cricket control/Nevada+Utah $50,000 Shitake Mushroom Study $450,000 United States Soccer foundation to promote soccer $250,000 Wine Research Center—UC Davis $250,000 Oregon Beaver Management $5 million McGruff the Crime Dog funding $90,000 Billingual audio tour for the National Cowgirl Museum $202,500 Construction of the National Peanut Festival Arena $2 million Construction of the “First Tee” program, and initiative of the World Golf Foundation $750,000 For the Please Touch Museum in Philly $315,000 Formosan subterranean termite research $1000,000 Renovation of Coca Cola Building $270,000 Potato storage research $450,000 Research on the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a citrus pest $360,000 Research on the uses of citrus waste $900,000 Building the Burpee Seep museum $200,000 Construction of a deer avoidance system $2.4 million New subway station for the new Yankee stadium $3 million Production of a documentary about infrastructure that demonstrates advancements in Alaska

7. Byrd Droppings Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown) Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit UniversityRobert C. Byrd HighwayRobert C. Byrd Federal Correctional InstitutionRobert C. Byrd High SchoolRobert C. Byrd FreewayRobert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and TourismRobert C. Byrd Science Center Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College  Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center Robert C. Byrd Federal Building (there are two) Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar GroveRobert C. Byrd Clinic at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic MedicineRobert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University

8. The French Kiss Off Awardto Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for $211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France. The Taxpayers Get Teed Off Awardto House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) for $3 million for The First Tee in the defense appropriations bill. The Cold Hard Cash Awardto Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) for $165.7 million in defense pork. The Tax Dollars on Drugs Awardto Representative John Murtha (D-Pa.) for $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center. The Pantheon of Pork Awardto Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.VA) for $386 million in pork. The Narcissist Awardto Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) for $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service. The Pig in Sheep's Clothing Awardto Montana Senators Max Baucaus (D) and Jon Tester (D) for $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute. The Unidentified Fiscal Object  Awardto Representative Ann Esshoo (D-Calif.) for $1.6 million for the Allen Telescope Array. The Money Doesn't Grow on Trees Awardto Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) for $344,540 for the city of Chicago GreenStreets Tree Planting Program. The Porky and Bess Awardfor $7.9 million for 36 theaters in 21 states. The Pacific Fleeced Awardto Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) for $173.2 million in defense pork. The Taxpayers Get Steamed Awardto Maine Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (R), and Rep. Thomas Allen (D-Maine) for $188,000 for the Lobster Institute. This Pork Was Made for Walking Awardto Representative Virgil Goode (R-Va.) for $98,000 to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia.  The Return to Sender Awardto Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for $196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic downtown Post Office in Las Vegas.

9. The Congressional Budget Earmarks Video • Watch the video, while watching fill out the viewing guide. • Be prepared to discuss your answers at the end.

10. Wrap Up • Use the diagram on pork belly spending to answer the question below.