Earmarks Explained
Working as a consultant and contractor to the Federal Government for over twenty-five years, I learned much about Congressional earmarks are also known as "plus-ups."
When Congressional earmarks were permitted, chairpersons of the various committees had considerable power to influence and direct how money is appropriated and spent.
Under the seniority system, members of Congress could use their power to give preference to their priorities that had a direct positive benefit to the Congressional Districts. The reward for voters from reelecting their representatives to office was from the power vested from seniority that allowed them to "bring home the bacon."
Rewarding Districts resulted from representatives being able to write specific legislation that defined projects and programs in law. The language could be so specific that it favored contractors who had a presence in the district. That presence meant the ability to hire locally qualified workers to perform the necessary tasks — the money from earmarks legislated for spending locally.
Often, congressional representatives from different committees would collaborate to define projects and programs to which resources would be allocated and appropriated across multiple districts.
Such money sometimes called set-asides when attached to broader initiatives.
The critical idea is that the projects and programs are necessary work to be done by Federal government departments. It isn't "make-work," meaning superficial. It is work that aligns with Executive branch priorities that need funding and can leverage Congressional sponsorship through Chairmanships and seniority.
Take that way, as we have done, and Citizens are deprived of the dynamic of benefiting from their loyalty to candidates. They have lost an incentive, and Congressional representatives can't bring home the bacon.
"Momentum for earmarks grows with Dem majority
BY ALEXANDER BOLTON - 01/23/19 06:00 AM EST 3,419
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With Democrats back in control of the House after eight years of Republican control, there is strong support for reviving earmarks — the power to direct money on pet projects — which caused a major scandal in Congress during the George W. Bush years.
Senate and House lawmakers from both parties predict there will be a serious push to bring back earmarks once the government shutdown is finally over — with one exception.
Earmarks is a dirty word, so if the specially allocated funds return, they will be referred to as “congressionally directed spending.”
Support for bringing back earmarks is not unanimous, but it is growing in both parties as Republicans and Democrats alike say too much power has shifted to the presidency.
“When you discontinue earmarks, you’re saying the administration can better spend the money in my district. They know best what we need,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)."
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/426525-momentum-for-earmarks-grows-with-dem-majority?userid=23145
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