Have you ever wondered why Congress seems incapable of doing anything except spend more money? It’s not an accident. In fact, it’s a direct result of how our federal budget process incentivizes corruption, dealmaking, and constitutional evasion.
Here’s how it works: Congress controls the federal purse. But individual members don’t represent the country—they represent districts. So, if a representative wants to bring home pork to their constituents—a bridge, a grant, a flashy program—they’ll only vote for a bill that includes those sweeteners. Multiply that demand by 535, and you can’t pass any legislation without greasing everyone’s palm.
And the president? If he wants a bill passed—on immigration, energy, healthcare—he’s forced to swallow the pork. Whether he likes it or not. Otherwise, his whole agenda dies on the vine. So he signs. Every time.
People unfamiliar with our system—especially those from nations with a parliamentary system, which operates differently—might be surprised that Congress can essentially extort the executive branch into disbursing funds for pet projects. But our Constitution doesn’t actually permit this. In fact, it was designed to stop it.
