Getting your Federal tax dollar's worth?

[Kuan]

Minnesota gets $0.46 on the dollar, therefore we should be entitled to more pork barrel spending.

http://www.vindy.com/content/national_world/293056699416690.php

Most states get back more than they pay in federal taxes


Delaware paid the most per person, but Alaska received the most federal spending per person.



WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government's system of taxing and spending works out well for people in states such as New Mexico, Mississippi and West Virginia.

Not so well for those in Delaware, Minnesota and New Jersey.

New Mexico received $3.10 in federal spending for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington in 2005 — more than any other state — according to an Associated Press analysis of new federal data.

Delaware fared the worst, receiving just 42 cents for every tax dollar sent to Washington. It was followed closely by Minnesota, which got 46 cents, and New Jersey, 57 cents.

In all, 30 states and the District of Columbia received more money from the federal government than they paid in federal taxes.

No wonder there's a federal budget deficit.

The Census Bureau released its annual report on 2005 spending by the federal government Tuesday. It documents the geographic distribution of $2.3 trillion in government spending, including salaries, grants, military pay, government contracts and Social Security payments. It excludes interest on the national debt, overseas spending and the classified budgets of intelligence agencies.

The AP compared the census data to previously released IRS figures for 2005 federal tax collections. The IRS data includes individual, corporate and excise taxes.

The analysis shows that wealthy states pay more than poor ones, blue states subsidize red states, and states with powerful politicians on key House and Senate committees fare well in federal spending.

High-income states such as New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts paid more in taxes than they received in federal spending, while low-income states such as Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama got a much higher return for their tax dollars.

The exceptions were Alaska, Hawaii, Virginia and Maryland — high-income states that also received high levels of government spending.

Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, a Washington research group, said the numbers represent a massive redistribution of the nation's wealth.

Why not redistribute wealth? asked James Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington think tank.

Among the other findings:

Nearly half of all federal spending went for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, a percentage that is likely to increase as baby boomers near retirement age.

Taxpayers in the District of Columbia paid the most federal taxes per person ($31,250), and received the most federal spending per person ($65,044). But, federal spending for Washington is inflated because many federal employees who work in the city live in Virginia or Maryland. The census counts federal salaries where they are paid.

Among the states, Delaware paid the most federal taxes per person, at $15,714. Alaska received the most federal spending per person, at $13,916.

West Virginia paid the least in taxes, at $3,015 per person. The national average was $7,652 per person.

Nevada received the least amount of federal spending per person, at $5,840. The national average was $7,706
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The federal government's system of taxing and spending works out well for people in states such as New Mexico,...