Pursuing the Pork in a State Legislature: A Research Note

Joel A. Thompson, Appalachian State University
Gary F. Moncrief, Boise State University

Abstract

This note extends an earlier analysis of pork barrel politics in North Carolina by examining several individual-level variables. Our findings indicate that partisanship is the most important determinant of success in obtaining discretionary funds for local projects. Of secondary importance is party loyalty. Once partisan factors are accounted for, other variables that decide pork barrel success (longevity or electoral vulnerability) are determined by the leadership in each house. Thus, the formula for pork barrel success is likely to vary from state to state, chamber to chamber, and leader to leader.