Political Barbeque

Earmark-Congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

Word origin-1590s, "to identify by an earmark," from earmark (n.). Meaning "to set aside money for a special purpose" is attested by 1868. Also the process of marking cattle. Earmarks got banned in 2011 after complaints about the bridge to nowhere, banned by the republican party. Congress would use this term to describe processes of allocating funds.

http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=earmark&allowed_in_frame=0

Logrolling- The practice of exchanging favors

Pork barrell spending is a “metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. The usage originated in American English. In election campaigns, the term is used in derogatory fashion to attack opponents.”

Examples:

“One of the most famous alleged pork-barrel projects was the Big Dig in Boston, Massachusetts. The Big Dig was a project to relocate an existing 3.5-mile (5.6 km) section of the interstate highway system underground. It ended up costing$14.6 billion, or over $4 billion per mile. Tip O'Neill (D-Mass), after whom one of the Big Dig tunnels was named, pushed to have the Big Dig funded by the federal government while he was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

During the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, the Gravina Island Bridge (also known as the "Bridge to Nowhere") in Alaska was cited as an example of pork barrel spending. The bridge, pushed for by Republican Senator Ted Stevens, was projected to cost $398 million and would connect the island's 50 residents and the Ketchikan International Airport to Revillagigedo Island and Ketchikan”

Logrolling- Vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage of action of interest to each legislative member. The first known use of the term was by Congressman Davy Crockett, who said on the floor in 1835, "my people don't like me to log-roll in their business, and vote away pre-emption rights to fellows in other states that never kindle a fire on their own land."

Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Logrolling.aspx

Grand Finale: Log rolling can be used to support earmarks which can be referred to as pork barreling when it is seen as unnecessary government expenditures.

Exploring Congress; How It Works

Bill Studied:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr2817
Colorado Senate Member: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/michael_bennet/412330
Colorado Delegation: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CO

This site gives you a view into the inner workings of congress that allow you to see any house or senate member or bill and who is responsible for them. The report card user allows us to view how the specific person we chose compared to the rest of the people in that house. For example i chose Michael Bennett, who comparatively was one of the worst people in the democratic party as well as in the selection of senators is used to grade him. He had zero to no positive things about his report card all being negative to him and his ideology. I also learned that the other house and senate members were more mixed within Colorado as they all had different things they excelled in and things they fell short in, this pertained to both parties. As for the bills passed within the government they all fluctuated in length but seemed to be written as concisely as was possible to still convey a message. They were very in depth but i did not expect to see so many new bills being passed each month within the government.

Senator Michael Bennet; You cant trust this smirk to do your state any good.

China Shuts down Stock Market Briefly

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/chinas-currency-rout-is-rocking-markets-again-2016-1?wt=2

After a 7% loss in fifteen minutes within their stock market China is trying to recuperate and quell fears of a crash within their economic system. A mere month after their decision in December to remain with their current country plan China is trying to flood money into the infrastructure and economy in order to stay afloat.

California Gun Statute

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/31/landmark-california-gun-seizure-law-takes-effect

A law will go into effect the first day of the new year that will allow police officers to petition to take away guns from people that they deem are dangerous to the well being of others. This could be considered both a bad and good thing is it allows the local government to control and make sure the guns are not in the wrong hands but it may also intrude on peoples freedom and may also make people think the government is trying to control their daily lives by restricting their use of firearms. Anyways it will be exciting to see how this new law plays out.

California's Porter Ranch Gas Leak

http://www.wallstreethedge.com/californias-porter-ranch-gas-leak-will-be-investigated-by-the-epa/28198/

The gas leak is emitting pollution equal to approximately 4.3  million cars per day and has been for over three months. The government is finally cracking down on it and the source and its causes are being studied by the EPA. Hopefully this destructive force tot he environment will be solved soon or it will just cause more damage to the environment.

Chief Justice of The Alabama Supreme Court issues probate on same sex marriage licenses

http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/state-chief-justice-issues-order-blocking-gay-marriages/article_384228e2-b342-5d91-8800-253ff0373eda.html

The Chief Justice Roy Moore is attempting to supersede the authority of the government by not allowing same sex couples to get married. Not only is this both embarrassing to him but it is also an embarrassment for a whole state as one disloyal and quarrelsome man seems to think he is above the nations governing law. This is both annoying and an atrocious act against people trying to live their lives.

Shooter In Paris One Year After The Anniversary Of Charlie Hebdo

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/485950/Shooting-Paris-police-gunman-fire-terror-fear-attacks-Charlie-Hebdo-anniversary???

Just one year after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in Paris another one was, this time, foiled by police as the attacker tried to storm a police station with a gun. The entire city of Paris has been put on lockdown as the police try to see if any other suspects are roaming around the inner workings of Paris. The only casualties so far are the shooter himself.

Here is a link to a video explaining the attack. http://bcove.me/e61bceww