Difference between revisions of "Earmark"
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'''Earmark''' is ''"any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic".'' As a legislative provision, it is the power of Congress to direct funds to be spent on specific named projects (i. e. projects or a particular person or a cause, in the home districts of sponsoring members) and passed without examination. Earmark allows Federal agencies to bypass regulatory determinations. Some earmarks become controversial for the perceived frivolous nature of the project. | '''Earmark''' is ''"any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic".'' As a legislative provision, it is the power of Congress to direct funds to be spent on specific named projects (i. e. projects or a particular person or a cause, in the home districts of sponsoring members) and passed without examination. Earmark allows Federal agencies to bypass regulatory determinations. Some earmarks become controversial for the perceived frivolous nature of the project. | ||
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| + | The term "earmark" comes from cattle and hog slaughtering houses. When cattle are being loaded for slaughter, a particular animal may be singled out for a special purpose, such a breeding; the animal would recieve an earmark, so those loading the cattle would see the earmark, and direct the particular animal for its individual purpose. In much the same way, as money is being appropriateed for operations of the federal government, or as "appropriations are being loaded", an earmark designates funds to be spent in a specific Congressional members state or district. The process has become highly specialized over time, even designating specific businesses to award no-bid contracts to, or specific plots of land to be purchased from specific owners of land to build a federal project. | ||
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| + | Earmarking is part of the process of awarding "[[pork barrel]]" projects. | ||
Some times it is related to dirty politics. | Some times it is related to dirty politics. | ||
Revision as of 03:47, June 6, 2007
Earmark is "any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic". As a legislative provision, it is the power of Congress to direct funds to be spent on specific named projects (i. e. projects or a particular person or a cause, in the home districts of sponsoring members) and passed without examination. Earmark allows Federal agencies to bypass regulatory determinations. Some earmarks become controversial for the perceived frivolous nature of the project.
The term "earmark" comes from cattle and hog slaughtering houses. When cattle are being loaded for slaughter, a particular animal may be singled out for a special purpose, such a breeding; the animal would recieve an earmark, so those loading the cattle would see the earmark, and direct the particular animal for its individual purpose. In much the same way, as money is being appropriateed for operations of the federal government, or as "appropriations are being loaded", an earmark designates funds to be spent in a specific Congressional members state or district. The process has become highly specialized over time, even designating specific businesses to award no-bid contracts to, or specific plots of land to be purchased from specific owners of land to build a federal project.
Earmarking is part of the process of awarding "pork barrel" projects.
Some times it is related to dirty politics.