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Politicians can gain added support for themselves by approving what?
Pork barrel projects
What is the main argument against pork barrel legislation?
Typically, 'pork' involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are concentrated in a particular area but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers. Public works projects, certain national defense spending projects, and agricultural subsidies are the most commonly cited examples. Pork is often identified as a key cause of government waste in the United States, specifically by funding programs which were not requested, authorised, competitively awarded, exceeding the budget, not subject to congressional hearings, and/or only serve a local, special interest.
What is pork in political terms?
It's short for "pork barrel spending." A pork project is something paid for by federal dollars that only benefits a limited number of citizens, and that the greater majority of the citizens sees as unnecessary.
What is Pork Barrel Legislation?
A "pork barrel project" is legislation that allocates government money to projects in a certain constituency. It is particularly associated with US politics, where legislators seek to base military or transport facilities and government agencies in their own constituency. Electoral prospects, especially for congressmen, often depend on how much "pork" they can divert to their home district, and members are reluctant to obstruct each other's pet projects in case their own are defeated. The projects could be something like building a bridge or a library.
What are the disadvantages of pork barrel?
In politics, the biggest disadvantage is that it leads to bargaining for projects to be done and leads to wasteful and irresponsible spending.
