Watt, though, is amused by the Republican freshmen's attempts to square their newfound passion for pork with their earlier disdain. But you're never going to get a member of Congress to define pork as anything in their district. Pork is always something somebody else is getting. There's a balancing act to be done between representing your district, promoting its interests and helping the folks at home, and being fiscally responsible. With the Republicans in control of Congress, Peterson says, it is more difficult to get money for local needs.
Budget cuts are in place, and the rate of increase in federal spending is slowing.
It's no longer a given that you're going to get the money. It certainly makes you prioritize. When the money does comes through, it's often less than the request amount or those provided in previous years. Indeed, North Carolina's projects pale in comparison to the size of projects elsewhere in the country. North Carolina, in fact, has never been a magnet for federal money.