Politics, in the realm of public budgeting, is considered to be meddlesome. When politics becomes part of the budgeting game the outcome can only be chaotic at best. Next is the incrementalist approach. In this view actors such as bureaucrats, budget officers, chief executives, and legislators are seen as negotiators who make deals. According to this view the process is open and anyone can become involved.
Conflict is held to a minimum because of the winnings are spread across.
Another view is that interest groups hold the key to deciding the outcome of the entire budget process. In this view there is the chance for big winners and big losers. In the fourth view of politics, is that the budget process itself is the center of budget politics. When the process itself is the key focus of budget politics the outcome is the rearranging or rewriting of procedures to ensure monies for one's own district. The final view is that policy debates are the center of political budgeting.