1. Congress at Work

2. Pork Barrels and Earmarks ► Objectives: to develop an understanding of Pork Barrels and Earmarks ► Question: when does the V.P. get to vote in the Senate?

3. Who is this?

4. I’m so confused! If the opposite of “pro” is “con,” does that mean that the opposite of progress is Congress?

5. Types of bills ► Private bills – deal with individual people or places ► Public bills – deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation  Vast majority of bills  More controversial because they affect everyone

6. Resolutions ► Used to make policy on an unusual or temporary matter ► Simple resolution-covers matters affecting only on house of Congress and passed by that house alone (rules, procedures, internal matters) ► Joint resolution – Passed in same form by both houses; if signed by Pres., has force of law; used to correct error in earlier law or appropriate money for specific purpose ► Concurrent resolution – requires action by both houses, but not law related and has no force of law with Pres. signature

7. Congressional Earmarks Should We Bring Home the Bacon?

8. 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?

9. 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.

10.  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 pork as a reward Slaves competed amongst themselves for the handout

11. Pork Barrel Spending

12. 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.

13. 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?

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

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

16. Discretionary v. Non-discretionary spending ► More than 70% of appropriations each year is mandated by earlier laws, not new ones  Current Congress has no discretion on how much money is appropriated in these cases; only way to change is to pass new laws to change old ones  Many of these are called entitlements – social welfare programs that entitle individuals to certain benefits (ex. Social Security, Medicare)

18. Biggest Pork Projects? ► The “Bridge to Nowhere” (Alaska)  $396 M to connect 50 residents to mainland  $7.9 M per person  funding later repealed; bridge never built ► The “Big Dig” (Boston, Mass.)  $14.6 B for 3.5 miles of tunnel  $1 M per foot  most costly construction project in history

19. ► $107,000 to study the sex life of the Japanese quail. ► $1.2 million to study the breeding habits of the woodchuck. ► $150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud. ► $84,000 to find out why people fall in love. ► $1 million to study why people don't ride bikes to work.

20. ► $19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence. ► $144,000 to see if pigeons follow human economic laws. ► Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling alleys. ► $219,000 to teach college students how to watch television. ► $2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian canoe.

21. ► $160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by drawing an X on his chest. ► $800,000 for a restroom on Mt. McKinley. ► $100,000 to study how to avoid falling spacecraft. ► $16,000 to study the operation of the komungo, a Korean stringed instrument. ► $1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as a historic monument. ► $6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce.

22. Pork barrel and logrolling ► Logrolling – when two or more lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills in exchange for votes

23. Final 5 ► Explain what an earmark is, and give an example.

24. December 11, 2012 ► No First 5 ► Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress ► Move into the House and Senate ► Speaker of the House will determine which committees go in what order ► V.P. and Pres. Pro Tempore will determine in the Senate ► Bills that pass go to the opposite chamber for debate and/or passage ► You get points for contribution- make sure that you are asking questions like how much it costs? When will it be finished/how long is it for? Where will the money come from to pay for it? Who does it affect? Etc…

25. Today’s exit ► What did you learn today from Congress? ► How important is it to have clear information in the bill? Why? ► What bill was written the most thorough today?

26. December 12, 2012 ► Objectives: To take part in Mock Congress ► Move into the House and Senate ► Finish passing bills/Bills that pass go to the opposite chamber for debate and/or passage- then to me. ► You get points for contribution- make sure that you are asking questions like how much it costs? When will it be finished/how long is it for? Where will the money come from to pay for it? Who does it affect? Etc…