pork barrel
Legislators' pet projects
Pork barrel refers to government spending directed to a specific locality to benefit politicians and their constituents rather than the broader public interest.
The term evokes the image of grabbing from a common store for personal gain.
A congressman secures pork barrel projects for his district—a new highway, a federal building—to win votes: The bill was loaded with pork barrel spending.
Often shortened to just pork.
Designate for specific purpose
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- budget allocationPlanned distribution of funds
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
- grantBestow or award money
funding · public works · infrastructure · stimulus · boondoggle · waste · slush fund · taxpayer money
Favoring friends in appointments
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
logrolling · corruption · bribery · quid pro quo · backscratching · machine politics · influence peddling · favors
earmark
Designate for specific purpose
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- budget allocationPlanned distribution of funds
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
grant · funding · public works · infrastructure · stimulus · boondoggle · waste · slush fund · taxpayer money · omnibus bill
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
nepotism · logrolling · corruption · bribery · quid pro quo · backscratching · machine politics · influence peddling · favors · clout
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- Congresssenator, representative, senators, House, bill
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- Gilded AgeGilded Age, robber baron, robber barons, Carnegie, Rockefeller
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, lame duck, swing state
pork barrelcompetitive bidding
Rivals offering prices
means testing · cost-benefit analysis · blind review · block grants
pork barrelfiscal austerity
Reduced government expenditure policy
balanced budget · spending cuts · fiscal conservatism · fiscal discipline · essential services
pork barrelgood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
public interest · general welfare · civic virtue · anti-corruption · statesmanship
barrel, pork, barrels, barreling, porcine, porked, porking, barreled, porks