pork-barrel
Legislative pet projects
Pork-barrel describes government spending directed to a particular district primarily to curry favor with local voters rather than serve the broader public interest: pork-barrel politics, pork-barrel projects.
The spending itself is called pork.
A legislator who secures funding for a local bridge or military base is bringing home the bacon—or the pork.
Designate for specific purpose
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- spendingOutlaying of funds
- billAmount owed, written
- riderOne who mounts transport
amendment · omnibus · budget · allocation · provision · measure · committee · lobbyist
Favoring friends in appointments
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- graftIllicit political gain
nepotism · backroom · quid pro quo · influence · constituent · reelection · district · hometown
Useless connecting structure
- highwayMajor road for travel
- damWater-holding barrier
- courthouseLegal proceedings venue
- military baseArmed forces facility
airport · stadium · museum · research facility · defense contract · infrastructure · construction · boondoggle
earmark
Designate for specific purpose
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- spendingOutlaying of funds
- billAmount owed, written
rider · amendment · omnibus · budget · allocation · provision · measure · committee · lobbyist · congressman
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
graft · nepotism · backroom · quid pro quo · influence · constituent · reelection · district · hometown · machine politics
bridge to nowhere
Useless connecting structure
- highwayMajor road for travel
- damWater-holding barrier
- courthouseLegal proceedings venue
military base · airport · stadium · museum · research facility · defense contract · infrastructure · construction · boondoggle · wasteful
pork-barrelmerit-based
Awarded by achievement
means-tested · technocratic · meritocratic · evidence-based · data-driven
pork-barrelfiscal conservatism
Advocating reduced government expenditure
belt-tightening · cost-effective · frugal · fiscal austerity · fiscal responsibility
pork-barrelnational interest
Nation's collective welfare priorities
general welfare · public interest · public good · common good · nationwide
barrel, pork, porker, porky, barrister, porcine, barrelling, barreled, porks