The importance of federal earmarks to state coffers

An examination of distribution trends over the decade

Bibliographic Data

ID20201211
AuthorsKaren Kunz (0000-0003-4404-696X, West Virginia University), Sean T O’Leary (0000-0003-2365-582X), Sean O’Leary
Year2012
Volume24
Issue4
Pages579-608
Publication date2012-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1096-3367 • E-ISSN: 1945-1814
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jpbafm-24-04-2012-b003
OpenAlexW2615990185
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited1

Earmarks have long been the subject of controversy, touted by pundits and politicians on one hand as the means for bringing home the bacon and on the other as pork-barrel spending. In relation to federal spending, the amount of annual earmarked dollars is insignificant; at its zenith in FY 2005 earmarked spending comprised only 6 percent of the year’s total appropriations. Yet preliminary research indicates that earmarks are an increasingly important source of funding for essential state services, such as infrastructure, social services, and economic development. Especially in times of fiscal stress, earmarks save state governments hundreds of millions of dollars in agency program funds and intergovernmental transfers. This study examines the congressional earmarks contained in appropriations legislation for FY 2000 through 2009 to assess trends in categorical distributions across and within the states during the period. The data illustrate a shift in allocations over the decade, from infrastructure, community development and environmental priorities to social and emergency services, higher education and energy needs

Business · Economic growth · Economic policy · Economics · Fiscal year · Legislation · Political science · Fiscal Policies and Political Economy · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Law · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Public Administration · Finance

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