- Northampton, MA -- As taxpayers prepare to meet this
year's April 16th tax deadline, they may want to consider that almost
40 cents of every tax dollar is spent on past and present
military spending, according to a newly released publication by the National
Priorities Project (NPP), a non-profit research organization that examines
the local impact of federal spending policies
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- In Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?, NPP offers breakdowns
of how the federal government spends the median household's tax payment
in each state and over 200 cities.
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- In 2006, according to the National Priorities Project,
current military spending accounted for 27 cents of every income tax dollar
paid. Additionally, NPP determined that nine cents of every federal
income tax dollar paid today could be attributed to borrowing to pay
for past wars and military build-ups. Finally, disability payments,
health care and other benefits accrued to veterans made up a little over
three cents of the federal income tax dollar, bringing total military spending
up to close to 40 cents of every tax dollar.
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- "To look at how the federal government spends our
taxes allows us to stare at our federal spending priorities,"
said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "Right
now, military spending crushes everything else, and we're not even close
to the final price tag on the Iraq War that has already cost us half a
trillion dollars."
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- National Priorities Project is also the leading
source for the cost of the Iraq War, offering breakdowns of the cost
by state and congressional district.
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- NPP's latest tax day publication shows that spending
on preventive security measures, such as diplomacy, economic development
assistance and locking down nuclear materials, amounted to three-quarters
of a penny. Investing in renewable energy and conservation received
hundredths of a penny of the federal income tax dollar. Domestic needs
such as affordable housing and nutrition claimed two and three cents, respectively.
Meanwhile, beyond military spending, the next two largest areas of spending
occurred in health at 21 cents of every tax dollar and interest on the
debt at 19 cents.
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- National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research
organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can
understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located
in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending
and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local
levels.
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- For more information, go to www.nationalpriorities.org
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