Description
Book SynopsisAndrew Sidman offers a systematic explanation for how political polarization affects the electoral influence of district-level federal spending. Pork Barrel Politics is an empirically rich account of the surprising repercussions of bringing pork home, with important consequences in our polarized era.
Trade ReviewProviding new insights about a very old practice of government,
Pork Barrel Politics details how pork barrel spending operates and shapes Congressional politics and policy making over the history of the Republic in an exhaustive and comprehensive analysis. Sidman demonstrates how legislators use and benefit from pork barrel spending, affecting a host of electoral and policy outcomes. A crucial book. -- Robert Stein, coauthor of
Perpetuating the Pork Barrel: Policy Subsystems and American DemocracySidman convincingly explains why Republicans and Democrats respond so differently to the pork barrel, once thought to be an unambiguous benefit to all members of Congress, and why the impact of pork barreling has varied over time. His central insight is that the electoral impact of pork depends on the type of benefits awarded and on levels of polarization. A rich historical account with persuasive theory and wide-ranging, sophisticated empirical analysis. -- Diana Evans, author of
Greasing the Wheels: Using Pork Barrel Projects to Build Majority Coalitions in CongressA comprehensive and timely study,
Pork Barrel Politics traces the history of distributive spending in Congress and its relation to Congressional elections at the primary and general election stages. Sidman finds that the effects of distributive benefits vary across parties, and can include significant indirect effects by deterring potential party primary challengers. -- Gregory Koger, University of Miami
While several scholars have found that Republicans do not benefit from pork barrel spending, this book engages in a more comprehensive analysis of the relationship between party and pork barrel spending, presents a more robust body of evidence and—most importantly—models the effects of party polarization. -- Daniel Palazzolo, author of
The Speaker and the Budget: Leadership in the Post-Reform House of RepresentativesThought-provoking. . . . A book for anyone interested in federal spending, electoral politics, Congress, or political polarization. * Choice *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
1. Incumbents and Pork Barrel Politics
2. Pursuing the Pork Barrel
3. An Electoral History of the Pork Barrel
4. Attitudes, Voting, and the Pork Barrel
5. Challenges from Within the Party
6. General-Election Challengers and Campaigns
7. Election Outcomes
Conclusion
Notes
References
Index
