What's up with New Mexico?
By Dave in Fla Posted in Taxes — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I was listening to Rush yesterday, and he raised a point that I thought was interesting. In essence his assertion is that the purpose of Dems in Congress is to transfer wealth from the Republican consituents (Red state, middle class) to the Dem consituents (Blue state, poor).
I picked up on that, and thought I'd take a look and see if there were any numbers that would show this effect. It seemed to me that if you looked at the federal tax revenues vs. expenditures on a state by state basis, then you should be able to see some rough trends.
I found report at the Tax Foundation (http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22685.html) that summarizes this information from 1981 to 2005.
First off, this information DOES NOT support Rush's assertion. It doesn't disprove it, but there isn't an obvious trend showing wealth redistribution from red states to blue states. In fact, some of the states that are the highest beneficiaries of federal tax revenues are reliably red states (Kentucky, Mississippi) and the state that is almost always at the bottom is New Jersey.
But the biggest surprise to me is the number #1 freeloading state in the union (drum roll) New Mexico! This little state has managed to be the number 1 recipient of federal funds (compared to taxes paid) EVERY YEAR from 1981 to 2005. The lowest they have ever been in $1.73 for every $1 paid to Uncle Sam. The highest has been $2.33 for every $1 paid. They are way way ahead of the usual second and third place finishers of Mississippi and North Dakota who clock in at around $1.50 for every $1. And I almost wonder why New Jersey isn't looking for a new country to be part of, getting a measly 60 cents on a dollar.
Let's hear if for New Mexico, the little state that could! (golf clap)
Both White Sands and Los Alamos are located in New Mexico. It does make me understand the Heather Wilson situation better though. I doubt anyone in that state wants to kill the golden goose.
"If they were merely incompetent, then at least SOME of their actions would have been to the benefit of the country."
There are a lot of reservations in NM--and if they don't have a casino, the residents are almost always dirt poor.
....although I believe that the majority of the land in New Mexico is owned by the federal government, as is much of the west. There are a lot of military installations, bombing ranges, a nuclear labratory, national parks, etc
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”