Dude, who even knows.
Post with 3 notes
So state legislatures haven’t banned earmarks, but are they/pork/logrolling in general still as common? Compared to the time I remember I have the sense that would have declined as they’re more frozen-polarized.
In the sense that there are consistently “blue states” and “red states” where with assured majorities and more partisan coherence outcomes map to the balance of power and constituencies’ alignment with parties, as compared to a world where majorities are fluid and often not the same when a notion is first hatched as when it’s put to vote, so cross-party coalitions needing lubrication form on an issue-by-issue basis.
Also there’s a sorting effect such that legislators can act for constituencies by identity rather than by location – where in 1982, the state senator might want an ag research center out on Skunk Hollow Road to support 200 college-degreed jobs in their district (raising local average income, pleasing local merchants and service providers, making it more likely more and higher-end ones come in, raising sales taxes…), by 2022 it is a college-educated district, and thus to please it that senator might push for regulation that favors consultants’ billing practices, or supports the environment at the expense of industry, or uphold education standards in career licensing, or something.
talkinggorillabutler reblogged this from kontextmaschine and added: This is what I come here for
theresponseblog said:
I think most everywhere is basically out of tax money to spread around like that. Most government revenue goes back to basic provision of services, and the rest is social spending (drug treatment and welfare). tototavros liked this
- kontextmaschine posted this
So state legislatures haven't banned earmarks, but are they/pork/logrolling in general still as common? Compared to the...