The NPR Politics Podcast Once Derided As Graft, Earmarks Just Helped Congress Pass A Bipartisan Budget Deal
Mar 11, 2022
Hansi Lo Wang, an NPR correspondent specializing in the census, discusses the critical undercount of Black, Latino, and Native American populations in the 2020 Census. He highlights the implications of these disparities on political representation and funding. The conversation also dives into the bipartisan budget deal, including the shift in priorities as COVID relief money is noticeably absent. The role of earmarks in fostering cooperation among lawmakers is explored, reflecting on their historical significance and current political climate.
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Earmarks Return
- Earmarks, banned a decade ago due to concerns about wasteful spending, have returned to congressional budgeting.
- Their absence may have contributed to political polarization by hindering compromise.
COVID Funding Omitted
- The latest spending bill omits new COVID-19 relief funding, despite the White House's urgent request.
- The White House warns of dire consequences, including depleted testing capacity and antibody shortages.
2020 Census Discrepancies
- The 2020 census undercounted minority groups (Black, Latino, Native American) while overcounting white, non-Latino individuals.
- This misrepresentation perpetuates inequalities in political power and resource allocation.