IRS crackdown on wealthy taxpayers brings in $160M in back taxes

What I’ve never understood from these studies is whether National Parks, National Labs, and military bases are included in the funding calculations. Both New Mexico and Alaska would be skewed pretty heavily if they are included.

 

I suspect they are. Military bases. Farm subsidies. Even interstate highways.

But that’s also kind of the point. It is federal money coming in, which benefits the local residents.

 

Great point and question…

One red one blue for those keeping political score lol.

 

In an indirect way, yes. But I don’t think that’s what most people would think of when thinking of states being “takers.” Certainly those categories of federal expenditures are for everyone in the U.S., not to subsidize an individual state.

 

Yes and no. There is a reason why congressman fight to have military bases and defense contractors making parts in their states. It benefits their state residents as well as the national benefit. You will have weapons systems various components manufactured all over the place for this reason. Some military bases and weapons systems the military says they don’t even need by congressman fund them anyway.

 

Fair point, there are definitely monies allocated to what the public views as “pork barrel” spending that falls within that category.