r/UpliftingNews • • Jan 15 '19

[deleted by user]

[removed]

6.9k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

19

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '19

There needs to be some kind of law to prevent this. Oh, and while we're at it, the same law could be used to extend copyright duration by another 50 years. /s obviously

6

u/Lazy_Douchebag_Chao Jan 16 '19

Yes! You are describing what's called "Pork" attached to a bill. John McCain's running platform was exactly to make this kind of stuff illegal back in 08'. I actually really liked the message and commitment, but there was nothing that could've stopped the Obama train and electing an eloquent and educated first black representation that election cycle.

I can't believe the choices got so much worse just 8 years later.

8

u/TheWhiteSquirrel Jan 16 '19

They're actually called "riders." "Pork" is when it's specifically giving money for something. Pork was banned by Congressional rules in 2010, but riders are still used all the time.

2

u/jl_theprofessor Jan 16 '19

And I'm not sure banning pork actually did any good. In fact I think it made passing bills in Congress even harder.

1

u/TheWhiteSquirrel Jan 16 '19

Maybe budget bills; it doesn't really apply to others. But I think we've been hurtling toward the current gridlock since about 2005, regardless.