DOCSLIB.ORG

Pork Politics: How Earmarks Affect Voter Behavior and Federal Campaigns Travis Braidwood

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2013 Pork Politics: How Earmarks Affect Voter Behavior and Federal Campaigns Travis Braidwood Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PUBLIC POLICY PORK POLITICS: HOW EARMARKS AFFECT VOTER BEHAVIOR AND FEDERAL CAMPAIGNS By TRAVIS BRAIDWOOD A dissertation submitted to the Department of Political Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2013 Travis Braidwood defended this dissertation on June 18, 2013. The members of the supervisory committee were: Cherie Maestas Professor Directing Dissertation Lance DeHaven-Smith University Representative Robert Jackson Committee Member Brad Gomez Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to my dissertation committee: Bob Jackson, Cherie Maestas, Brad Gomez and Lance DeHaven-Smith for volunteering to help me through this long process. Thanks as well to my friend and colleague Scott Clifford for his assistance in making this project possible. I would like to thank the Claude Pepper Center and Jennifer Jerit for their time and resources that permitted me and several other professors and graduate students to conduct experiments in a controlled laboratory setting. I would like to thank Dale Smith, the Political Science Department at Florida State University, and, again, Cherie Maestas for availing me of opportunities to aid in data collection, including the Research Intensive Baccalaureate Certificate (RIBC) Program, and the option to teach several unique undergraduate courses. Thanks to these opportunities, I was able to recruit undergraduate students to assist in the data collection process, which saved me countless hours. Finally, I would like to thank my father, Ken, mother, Patricia, and sister, Jordan, as well as my close friends. Thank you all for always sticking by me and encouraging me to pursue my goals to the fullest. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF FIGURES ix ABSTRACT x 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Defining Earmarks 3 1.2 Outline 7 2 THEORY AND DESIGN 9 2.1 Pork in the Eyes of Members: Needs and Motivations 9 2.2 Earmarks and Elections 13 2.2.1 The Rewards of the Enlightened 15 2.2.2 New Bridge, What Bridge? The Reality of the Unaware Voter 17 2.2.3 Rewarding Those Who Reward: Earmarks and Campaign Contributions 20 3 MEASURING EARMARKS 23 3.1 Data Accuracy and Sources 24 4 WHO BENEFITS FROM EARMARKS, AND WHY? 28 4.1 Getting Pork: Which Representatives Receive Earmarks? 28 4.2 Getting Pork: Which Senators Receive Earmarks and Why? 33 4.3 Frightened Into Action: Electoral Vulnerability and Effort to Secure Earmarks 37 5 DESIRABLE PORK: DO VOTERS REWARD FOR EARMARK ACQUISITION? 45 5.1 Introduction 45 5.2 Awareness, Credit Claiming, and Desirability 47 5.2.1 Credit Claiming 48 5.2.2 Issue Framing 50 5.2.3 Issue Publics 51 5.3 Hypotheses 52 5.4 Experimental Design 54 iv 5.4.1 Study 1 55 5.4.2 Results of Study 1 56 5.4.3 Study 2 59 5.4.4 Results of Study 2 61 5.4.5 Study 3 64 5.4.6 Results of Study 3 65 5.5 Conclusion 67 6 MYSTERIOUS PORK: THE LACK OF CITIZEN AWARENESS OF EARMARKS 70 6.1 Introduction 70 6.2 Earmarks and Electoral Behavior 71 6.2.1 Self-Interest, Information, and Electoral Rewards 73 6.3 Data Sources 76 6.3.1 Data Accuracy 77 6.4 Methodology 79 6.4.1 Model 1: Project Recall: 2008 CCES 79 6.4.2 Measuring Media Coverage 80 6.5 Results 81 6.5.1 2008 CCES Survey 81 6.6 Approval and Support 86 6.6.1 Pork and Approval 86 6.6.2 Earmarks and Support for the Procuring Incumbent 89 6.7 Conclusion 92 7 PORK AND CAMPAIGNING: FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF EARMARKING 95 7.1 The Entangled Campaign Process 97 7.2 Pork and Campaigning: Financial Benefits of Earmarking 100 7.2.1 Contributions for Projects Theory: Are Earmarks the Result of Campaign Contributions? 103 7.3 Data and Methods 104 7.4 Results 106 7.5 Conclusion 109 8 CONCLUSION 111 8.1 Earmarks and Institutions 112 8.2 Earmarks and Electoral Outcomes 113 8.3 The Future of Research Regarding Pork Politics 115 A SUPPORTING MATERIAL TO CHAPTER 4 117 v B SUPPORTING MATERIAL TO CHAPTER 5 123 C SUPPORTING MATERIAL TO CHAPTER 6 135 D SUPPORTING MATERIAL TO CHAPTER 7 150 BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 161 vi LIST OF TABLES 4.1 Representatives Securing Earmarks, Fiscal Years 2008-2010 31 4.2 Senators Securing Earmarks, Fiscal Years 2008-2010 35 4.3 Regression of Past Earmarks on Future Vote, Freshmen Only 39 4.4 2SLS Model Predicting Pork’s Effect on Future Vote Share 42 5.1 The Effect of Positively Framed Pork Treatments on Support for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Summer 2011 57 5.2 The Effect of Positively Framed Pork Treatments on Support for Rep. Miller (R, FL-1st), Fall 2011 62 5.3 The Effect of Negatively Framed Pork Treatments on Support for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Spring 2012 66 6.1 Project Recall, CCES 2008 82 6.2 Senator and Representative Approval, CCES 2008 87 6.3 Pork and Incumbent Support, CCES 2008 90 7.1 The Effect of Contributions on Freshmen Representatives Securing Earmarks 107 A.1 Freshmen Representatives Securing Earmarks, Fiscal Years 2008-2010 117 A.2 Heckman Two-Step Estimation of Earmark Acquisition 119 A.3 State Population and Representatives Securing Earmarks, Fiscal Years 2008-2010 120 B.1 The Effect of Pork Treatment on Support for Rep. Miller (R, FL-1st) 123 B.2 Number of Subject Surveys and the Effect of Pork Treatments on Support for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) 124 B.3 Disaggregated Dependent Variables, Study 1 (Summer 2011, Sen. Nelson) 125 B.4 Disaggregated Dependent Variables, Study 2 (Fall 2011, Rep. Jeff Miller) 125 B.5 List of Utilized Local Newspapers 127 B.6 Political Sophistication and Positively Framed Pork Treatments on Support for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Summer 2011 130 B.7 Disaggregated Dependent Variables, Spring 2012 (Sen. Bill Nelson) 131 B.8 Favorability of the Tea Party on Support for Senator Nelson (FL), Summer 2011 133 B.9 Exclusion of the Party Identification Control Variable, All Models 134 vii C.1 Variable Information Utilized in the Analysis of the 2008 CCES 136 C.2 Variable Information Utilized in the Analysis of the 2006 CBS/NYT Poll 137 C.3 The Number of Earmark Projects on Predicting Project Recall 138 C.4 Local News Papers 141 C.5 Pork Dollars and the Ability to Recall Projects, 2008 CCES 143 C.6 Incumbent Approval and Earmark Allocations, CCES 2008 145 C.7 Incumbent Vote, CCES 2008 147 D.1 Tobit Analysis of the Effect of Contributions on Freshmen Representatives Secur- ing Earmark 150 viii LIST OF FIGURES 2.1 Earmark Projects to States and Districts, Fiscal Year 2008 10 2.2 2011 CBS Poll: Identification of Earmark’s Share of the National Budget 11 2.3 Previous and Revised Theories of Earmark Attribution 21 3.1 Federal Earmark Allocations, FY2008: Comparing TCS, CAGW and FAADS 26 3.2 Earmarks FY2008-2010: Comparing TCS to CAGW Measurements 27 4.1 Dollar (logged) and Number of Representative Earmarks, FY2008-2010 30 4.2 Dollar (logged) and Number of Senator Earmarks, FY2008-2010 34 4.3 Marginal Effect of Past Earmarks on Future Vote, Freshmen Only 40 4.4 Marginal Effect of Earmarks on Future Vote, 110th and 111th Congresses (2SLS) 43 5.1 2010 CNN Poll: Acceptability of Earmarks 49 5.2 Treatment Effects of Pork on Support for Sen. Nelson (Positively Framed) 58 5.3 Treatment Effects of Pork on Support for Rep. Miller (Positively Framed) 63 5.4 Treatment Effect of Pork on Support for Sen. Bill Nelson 67 6.1 Project Recall and Representative Pork Dollars (logged) 84 6.2 Project Recall and State Newspaper Coverage of Senator Pork 85 6.3 Representative Media Coverage (of Earmarks) on Incumbent Support 92 7.1 The Earmark-Contribution Endogeneity Problem 102 7.2 Marginal Effect of Contributions on Earmark Acquisition, 110th and 111th Con- gresses 108 B.1 Lexis-Nexus Media Search on Earmarks and Congress 132 ix ABSTRACT This dissertation explores the role of earmarks, also known as pork projects, in several facets of American politics. After reviewing the changing history and various means of measuring earmark projects, I attempt to determine which Members of Congress are most adept at securing earmarks, and whether these projects affect electoral security. Second, this work departs from previous as- sumptions that pork projects are viewed equally by all recipients, given recipients are made aware of the projects at all. Third, this work challenges existing claims that contend a direct linkage be- tween voter awareness of earmark projects and electoral support for an incumbent; instead, I argue for the role of media dissemination of this information. Finally, this project differentiates itself from the current literature by approaching the impact of earmarks not solely as a means to directly appeal to the majority of voters, but as a quid pro quo to be invoked by Members looking to shore up campaign support. Rather than contend that only voters reward incumbents for project dollars, this paper explores the impact of earmarks on campaign contributions provided by special interest groups.
Recommended publications

  • Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear

    ï . •,";,£ CASL M T. ^oÛNTAE À SUL'S, REVITA 1ENT, HASSLE- NT_ MAIN STR " \CCOUNTA ;, INNOVAT MLUE, CASL : REVITA JOVATh IE, CASL )UNTAE CO M M XIMEN1 VlTA • Ml ^re aW c^Pti ( °rds *cc Po 0 ^rof°>lish lu*t* >nk Lan <^l^ gua a ul Vic r ntz °ko Ono." - Somehow, W( c< Words are enorm i Jheer pleasure of CJ ftj* * - ! love laag^ liant about Words." gM °rder- Franl< Luntz * bril- 'Frank Luntz understands the power of words to move public Opinion and communicate big ideas. Any Democrat who writes off his analysis and decades of experience just because he works for the other side is making a big mistake. His les sons don't have a party label. The only question is, where s our Frank Luntz^^^^^^^™ îy are some people so much better than others at talking their way into a job or nit of trouble? What makes some advertising jingles cut through the clutter of our crowded memories? What's behind winning campaign slogans and career-ending political blunders? Why do some speeches resonate and endure while others are forgotten moments after they are given? The answers lie in the way words are used to influence and motivate, the way they connect thought and emotion. And no person knows more about the intersection of words and deeds than language architect and public-opinion guru Dr. Frank Luntz. In Words That Work, Dr. Luntz not only raises the curtain on the craft of effective language, but also offers priceless insight on how to find and use the right words to get what you want out of life.
  • Pork Barrel” Scandal

    Pork Barrel” Scandal

    Philippines’ Commission on Audit (CoA) Key to Unearthing “Pork Barrel” Scandal October 2016 INTRODUCTION The “pork barrel system” of lump sum grants to members of the Philippines Congress to fund a list of community- based or small-scale infrastructure projects that would be implemented by local public agencies was revived during President Corazon Aquino’s administration. The system operated under a series of programs, most recently through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). How did the PDAF work in its most recent form? During congressional budget deliberations, a list of development projects was included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) as eligible for funding under the PDAF. A lump sum was appropriated for the projects to be implemented by various agencies. Up until 2013, each Senator was allocated PHP 200 million (about US$4.4 million), while each member of the House of Representatives was allocated PHP 70 million (about US$1.5 million). In practice, the implementing agencies (IAs) served as conduits that diverted the funds to several bogus NGOs. The NGOs were offered as fronts for “ghost projects” by a businesswoman in exchange for kickbacks to members of Congress and government officials. This case became known as the pork barrel scam. Two unrelated investigations in 2012, one by the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) and the other by the Commission of Audit (CoA), shed light on the misuse of PDAF by members of Congress, government officials, and NGOs. The NBI conducted an investigation on the illegal detention of Benhur Luy by his employer, businesswoman Janet Napoles, at the same time that CoA was conducting its own audit of the use of the PDAF resources for the years 2007-2009.1 Approved by the previous CoA chairperson, this audit started in 2010 and took over three years from planning and execution to release of the report.
  • Today We Are Interviewing Mr

    Today We Are Interviewing Mr

    1 CENTER FOR FLORIDA HISTORY ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM INTERVIEW WITH: HOMER HOOKS INTERVIEWER: JAMES M. DENHAM PLACE: LAKELAND, FLORIDA DATE: JULY 29, 2003 M= JAMES M. DENHAM (Mike) H= HOMER HOOKS M: Today we are interviewing Mr. Homer Hooks and we are going to talk today about the legacy of Lawton Chiles and hopefully follow this up with future discussions of Mr. Hooks’ business career and career in politics. Good morning Mr. Hooks. H: Good morning, Mike. M: As I mentioned, we, really, in the future want to talk about your service in World War II and also your business career, but today we would like to focus on your memories of Lawton Chiles. Even so, can you tell us a little bit about where you were born as well as giving us a brief biographical sketch? H: Yes, Mike. I was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on January 10, 1921. My family moved to Lake County actually in Florida when I was a child. I was 4 or 5 years old, I guess. We lived in Clermont in south Lake County. My grandfather was a pioneer. He platted the town of Clermont. The rest of the family also lived north of Clermont in the Leesburg area, but we considered ourselves pioneer Florida residents. Those were the days in 1926, ‘27 and ‘28 days and so forth. I grew up in Clermont - grammar school and high school and then immediately went to the University of Florida in 1939 and graduated in 1943, as some people have said, when the earth’s crust was still cooling, so long ago.
  • Capital Project Summary Department of Transportation and Public Facilities FY2007 Governor Amended Reference No: 41919 4/28/06 2:59:44 PM Page: 1

    Capital Project Summary Department of Transportation and Public Facilities FY2007 Governor Amended Reference No: 41919 4/28/06 2:59:44 PM Page: 1

    Gravina Island Bridge FY2007 Request: $91,000,000 Reference No: 41919 AP/AL: Allocation Project Type: Construction Category: Transportation Location: Ketchikan Contact: John MacKinnon House District: Ketchikan Contact Phone: (907)465-6973 Estimated Project Dates: 07/01/2006 - 06/03/2011 Appropriation: Congressional Earmarks Brief Summary and Statement of Need: Improve surface access between Ketchikan and Gravina Island, including the Ketchikan International Airport. This project contributes to the Department's Mission by reducing injuries, fatalities and property damage, by improving the mobility of people and goods and by increasing private investment. Funding: FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 Total Fed Rcpts $91,000,000 $91,000,000 Total: $91,000,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $91,000,000 State Match Required One-Time Project Phased - new Phased - underway On-Going 9% = Minimum State Match % Required Amendment Mental Health Bill Operating & Maintenance Costs: Amount Staff Project Development: 0 0 Ongoing Operating: 0 0 One-Time Startup: 0 Totals: 0 0 Additional Information / Prior Funding History: FY2005 - $215,000,000; FY2002 - $20,000,000; FY1999 - $20,200,000. Project Description/Justification: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), proposes to start the final step toward constructing access from Revillagigedo (Revilla) Island to Gravina Island in Southeast Alaska. It is intended to provide a roadway link from Ketchikan to Gravina Island across the Ralph M. Bartholomew Veterans' Memorial Bridges over two channels of Tongass Narrows. Pennock Island in the Narrows is also now accessible. The proposed Gravina Island Highway begins as the Airport Access Road at the Ketchikan International Airport parking lot on Gravina Island and extends south around the end of the present day runway and up the hill to an intersection with Gravina Island Highway and Lewis Reef Road.
  • Congressional Directory FLORIDA

    Congressional Directory FLORIDA

    56 Congressional Directory FLORIDA FLORIDA (Population 2000, 15,982,378) SENATORS BILL NELSON, Democrat, of Orlando, FL, born in Miami, FL, September 29, 1942; edu- cation: Melbourne High School, 1960; B.A., Yale University, 1965; J.D. University of Virginia School of Law, 1968; professional: attorney; admitted to the Florida Bar, 1968; captain, U.S. Army Reserve, 1965–1971; active duty, 1968–1970; public service: Florida State House of Rep- resentatives, 1973–1979; U.S. House of Representatives, 1979–1991; Florida Treasurer, Insur- ance Commissioner, and State Fire Marshal, 1995–2001; Astronaut: payload specialist on the space shuttle Columbia, January, 1986; married: the former Grace Cavert; children: Bill Jr. and Nan Ellen; committees: Armed Services; Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; For- eign Relations; Special Committee on Aging; elected to the U.S. Senate on November 7, 2000. Office Listings http://billnelson.senate.gov 716 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 ......................................... (202) 224–5274 Chief of Staff.—Pete Mitchell. FAX: 228–2183 Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications.—Dan McLaughlin. Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration.—Brenda Strickland. Legislative Director.—Dan Shapiro. U.S. Courthouse Annex, 111 North Adams Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301 ............... (850) 942–6415 State Director.—Pete Mitchell. 801 North Florida Avenue, 4th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 ........................................... (813) 225–7040 2925 Salzedo Street, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ............................................................. (305) 536–5999 3416 University Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328 ...................................................... (954) 693–4851 500 Australian Avenue, Suite 125, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 .............................. (561) 514–0189 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410, Orlando, FL 32801 .......................................... (407) 872–7161 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2281, Jacksonville, FL 32207 .............................
  • Races to Watch for Supporters of Immigration Reform Senate Edition

    Races to Watch for Supporters of Immigration Reform Senate Edition

    RACES TO WATCH FOR SUPPORTERS OF IMMIGRATION REFORM SENATE EDITION September 2012 ARIZONA (OPEN) FLORIDA (NELSON-D) MASSACHUSETTS (BROWN-R) NEVADA (HELLER-R) NEW MEXICO (OPEN) VIRGINIA (OPEN) 1 State: Arizona (open) Candidates: Richard Carmona (D) v. Rep. Jeff Flake (R) Rating: Lean Republican (Cook Political Report, 9/24/12) Latino Voters: 18.4% (see LatinoVoteMap.org) Arizona’s Jeff Flake used to be a champion of comprehensive immigration reform, leading the effort to push for common sense solutions in the U.S. House of Representatives in the mid- 2000s. However, Flake tacked right during the Senate primary, following the playbook of Senator John McCain in his transformation between the push for comprehensive reform in 2007 and the Republican presidential primary in 2008. Flake went so far as to vote against the DREAM Act in 2010. But the Congressman might not have gotten the memo: in the two years since the Arizona legislature passed SB 1070, voters have begun to realize that immigrant- bashing is distracting and destructive. SB 1070’s lead sponsor, State Senate President Russell Pearce, was kicked out of office in an unprecedented recall election in 2011—then defeated again in 2012. Furthermore, advocates and community leaders are working hard to ensure that Latinos (who measure 30.1% of Arizona’s population and 18.4% of its voter base) and immigrants in Arizona show resilience in the face of anti-immigrant bullying by showing up at the polls. If Carmona is able to beat Flake, it will be due to turnout of Latino voters. Jan Brewer and Joe Arpaio will be represented in the Senate by a vocal supporter of comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act—and it might prove that the head-in-the-sand anti-immigrant fad of the last few years has finally worn out its welcome.
  • 2015 Citizenguideupdate 12-15

    2015 Citizenguideupdate 12-15

    COUNTY CITIES & TOWNS GENERAL INFORMATION PINELLAS COUNTY The county seat is Clearwater. www.pinellascounty.org *Election dates vary by municipality. Call to confirm election dates. Voter Eligibility: You are eligible to register to vote if you are a County Courthouse and Administrative Building Belleair: (727) 588-3769 U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, and a legal resident of the county in 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756 (727) 464-3000, fax (727) 464-3051 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 33756 fax (727) 588-3778 which you are registering. Pinellas County Commission 4-year term Belleair Beach: (727) 595-4646 444 Causeway Blvd., 33786 fax (727) 593-1409 Florida’s Closed Primary Elections: If all candidates for an office Dist. 1 Janet C. Long (D) 2016 (727) 464-3365 Belleair Bluffs: (727) 584-2151 have the same party affiliation and the winner of the primary CCIIIITTTIIIIZZZEEENNNSS Dist. 2 Patricia “Pat” Gerard (D) 2018 (727) 464-3360 2747 Sunset Blvd., 33770 fax (727) 584-6175 will have no opposition in the general election, all eligible Dist. 3 Charlie Justice (D) 2016 (727) 464-3363 Belleair Shore: (727) 593-9296 voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary Dist. 4 Dave Eggers (R) 2018 (727) 464-3276 1200 Gulf Blvd., 33786 fax (727) 593-9296 election for that office. Otherwise, the primary is closed, and Dist. 5 Karen Williams Seel (R) 2016 (727) 464-3278 Clearwater: (727) 562-4092 only voters registered with a political party may vote in that Dist. 6 John Morroni (R) 2018 (727) 464-3568 112 S.
  • RESOURCES NATURAL Divisto~OF Geologicala CEOPHYSKAL SURVEYS RESOURCES

    RESOURCES NATURAL Divisto~OF Geologicala CEOPHYSKAL SURVEYS RESOURCES

    Published by STATEOF ALASKA Abska Department of DEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL Divisto~OF GEOLOGICALa CEOPHYSKAL SURVEYS RESOURCES 1996 /rice: $5.00 - -- .-. -- -- - -A-- - - - - - - - Information Circular 11 PUBLICATIONSCATALOG OF THE DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL& GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS Fourth Edition Published by STATEOF ALASKA DEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISIONOF GEOLOGICAL& GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS DEDICATION All of us who have had the pleasure of working with Roberta (Bobbi) Mann are indeed fortunate. Without exception, we have found her to be industrious, dedicated, efficient, and of unflagging good humor. Fully half of the publications listed in this brochure couldn't have been produced without her. STATE OF ALASKA For over 20 years, Bobbi has routinely typed (and corrected) Tony Knowles, Governor all the sesquipedalian buzzwords in the geologist's lexicon, from allochthonous to zeugogeosyncline (with stops at DEPARTMENT OF hypabyssal and poikiloblastic)-without having even the NATURAL RESOURCES remotest idea of their meaning. John T. Shively, Commissioner DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL & Such zeal. Bobbi has spent most of her adult life typing error- GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS free documents about an arcane subject she knows virtually Milton A. Wiltse, Acting Director and nothing about. If, at the end of her career, someone would ask State Geologist her what she spent the last few decades typing, I'm positive Bobbi would shyly smile and say, "I'm not really sure. Some- Publication of DCCS reports is required by thing about rocks." Alaska Statute 41, "to determine the poten- tial ofAlaskan land for production of metals, minerals, fuels, and geothermal resources; Now THAT'S dedication. the location and supplies of groundwater and construction materials; the potential geologic hazardsto buildings, roads, bridges, and other installations and structures; and .
  • THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARMARKS and SPENDING on INFRASTRUCTURE a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School Of

    THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARMARKS and SPENDING on INFRASTRUCTURE a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School Of

    THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARMARKS AND SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Policy in Public Policy By Megan Caitlin Thompson, B.A. Washington, DC April 15, 2016 Copyright 2016 by Megan Caitlin Thompson All Rights Reserved ii THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARMARKS AND SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE Megan Caitlin Thompson, B.A. Thesis Advisor: Andrew S. Wise, Ph.D. ABSTRACT The federal budget process is a complex procedure that involves countless rules and processes, millions of work hours on behalf of tens of thousands of staff in the executive and legislative branches and the active participation of the President and Members of Congress. A critical component of the annual federal budget procedure is the Congressional Appropriations process—the process in which Congress uses its power under the Constitution to appropriate federal funds. Up until 2011, a common practice by which Members of the House of Representatives and Congress appropriated funds, particularly for parochial interests, was earmarking. This paper examines whether earmarks had an effect on federally funded projects. Specifically, I will study infrastructure projects and if the lack of earmarks has limited or reduced spending on these projects. I hypothesize that the ban on earmarks reduced infrastructure spending. However contrary to my hypothesis, my analysis reveals that there was actually increased spending on infrastructure projects following the implementation of the ban. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 II. Background and Literature Review ............................................................................. 4 III. Theoretical Framework ...........................................................................................
  • A HUNGER for POWER and a THIRST for WEALTH: ESTABLISHING a LINK BETWEEN EARLY POLITICAL CORRUPTION and the PORK BARREL SYSTEM Federick Joe P

    A HUNGER for POWER and a THIRST for WEALTH: ESTABLISHING a LINK BETWEEN EARLY POLITICAL CORRUPTION and the PORK BARREL SYSTEM Federick Joe P

    J. S. Asian Stud. 01 (03) 2013. 55-61 Available Online at ESci Journals Journal of South Asian Studies ISSN: 2307-4000 (Online), 2308-7846 (Print) http://www.escijournals.net/JSAS A HUNGER FOR POWER AND A THIRST FOR WEALTH: ESTABLISHING A LINK BETWEEN EARLY POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM Federick Joe P. Fajardo* Independent Researcher, Manila, Philippines. A B S T R A C T The NBN-ZTE scandal which involves allegation of corruption about the proposed national broadband project between the government and China’s ZTE Corporation drew too much attention worldwide (“Arroyo suspends telecom deal with Chinese firm”, 2007). During the Senate hearing, we have heard about their use of the term “moderate greed” as a paradox (“NBN-ZTE Executive Summary”, 2009). Moderating the question of how far will you go and how much is too much is an open question that needs self-assessment and agreement in the definition of what excessive and greed is all about. At the present, the Philippine government is facing another issue of corruption through the abuse of the pork barrel system. This paper aims to discuss the issue of political corruption in the Philippine government by giving an overview of the pork barrel system, a political act of appropriating lump-sum budget for local projects which brings money to a representative’s district (Drudge, 2008). The research also aims to cover how it can be a tool for corruption and cite the underlying failures in the roots of early Philippine politics. A famous philosopher, George Santayana, once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (Santayana, 1905).
  • The Folly of Wisdom Preacher: Rev

    The Folly of Wisdom Preacher: Rev

    The Folly of Wisdom Preacher: Rev. Jill Olds Date: February 23, 2014 20:29 Let us pray. Holy One, guide our hearts towards compassion, and guide our minds towards understanding. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts and minds together be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer, through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. In September of 2008, on a tiny strip of land in Alaska known as Gravina Island, workers put down their shovels, and parked their steamrollers for the last time. The road was completed. And this was not just any road. The road now known as Gravina Island Highway was nearly thirty years in the making—research began in the 1980s, the intention being to connect the nearby town of Ketchikan with the airport located on the island, about a mile and a half away, thus eliminating the need for a ferry service that carried some 350,000 people every year. The completed road—3.2 miles long—started at the airport and was destined to be connected to the Gravina Island Bridge. Except, herein lies the rub. If you go visit the road today, you’ll start at the airport and, 3.2 miles later, you’ll wind up in a dead-end cul-de-sac. The bridge, which was to cost a whopping $398 million, was never approved of by Congress, and so the project has been indefinitely shelved. But here’s the real kicker—the powers-that-be in Alaska knew before the road was begun that the bridge would never be constructed.
  • Transportation Infrastructure Needs in Alaska

    Transportation Infrastructure Needs in Alaska

    S. HRG. 108–349 TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN ALASKA FIELD HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON OVERSIGHT OF THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF ALASKA APRIL 14, 2003—PALMER, ALASKA Printed for the use of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 92–373 PDF WASHINGTON : 2004 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma, Chairman JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri MAX BAUCUS, Montana GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio HARRY REID, Nevada MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho BOB GRAHAM, Florida LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut JOHN CORNYN, Texaa BARBARA BOXER, California LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska RON WYDEN, Oregon CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware WAYNE ALLARD, Colorado HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York ANDREW WHEELER, Majority Staff Director KEN CONNOLLY, Minority Staff Director (II) CONTENTS Page APRIL 14, 2003—PALMER, ALASKA OPENING STATEMENTS Murkowski, Hon. Lisa, U.S. Senator from the State of Alaska ........................... 1 WITNESSES Anderson, Hon. Tim, Mayor, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska ................... 20 Angasan, Trefon, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Alaska Federation of Natives . 10 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 38 Barton, Michael, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities .................................................................................................... 6 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 35 Boyles, Hon.