The Juneau Empire carries an Associated Press story this morning reporting that Alaska receives $1.91 in federal expenditures for every $1.00 that is collected here in federal taxes. New Mexico receives the most federal money per tax dollar, $2.37, while New Jersey receives the least, $0.62. The story reports on a study by the Tax Foundation:
"Scott Moody, the foundation's senior economist, said Alaska ranks near the list's top because of a proportionately large number of federal employees and an unusually high number of dollars granted to the state and local governments.
"A large number of federal employees usually reflects large military bases, Moody said. That's a characteristic Alaska shares with New Mexico.
"The abundant grants to Alaska's state and local governments are harder to explain, Moody noted, but Sen. Ted Stevens is likely one reason. The Republican senator is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a post he first gained in 1997."
The report itself is on the Tax Foundation's web site, here: "Federal Tax Burdens and Expenditures by State"
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