It bears repeating that the states where anti-federal government, anti-tax fervor is greatest are also the states that benefit the most from federal tax money and spending policies from Washington, D.C. For example, while Alabama is one of the top five most conservative states in the country on many measures, it receives $1.61 back in federal money for every $1 it sends to Washington in tax money.
The Tax Foundation has released the latest version of the report showing that of the 32 states (and the District of Columbia) are “winners” — receiving more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes, while 76 percent are Red States that voted for George Bush in 2000. Indeed, 17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States.
Here are the Top 10 states that feed at the federal trough (with Red States highlighted in bold):
1. D.C. ($6.17)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)
In contrast, of the 16 states that are “losers” — receiving less in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes — 69 percent are Blue States that voted for Al Gore in 2000. Indeed, 11 of the 14 (79%) of the states receiving the least federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Blue States.
Here are the Top 10 states that supply feed for the federal trough (with Blue States highlighted in bold):
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, a Republican from Tuscaloosa who used to be a Democrat, was recently featured in a Washington Post investigative series about how members of Congress for many years have used their public positions for personal gain.
Everybody in the sixth congressional district has most likely heard about the ongoing congressional ethics investigation of Congressman Spencer Bachus, who was exposed for “insider trading” by the CBS investigative show “60 Minutes.”
But what many people in Alabama have probably not found out about, unless they are readers of The Locust Fork News-Journal since we published the links to the stories prominently on our front page, is that the Washington Post recently did an investigative series which featured Shelby on how members of congress fund projects near their personal properties from federal tax money sent back to their home state as “earmarks.”
Here’s how the newspaper led its coverage.
A U.S. senator from Alabama directed more than $100 million in federal earmarks to renovate downtown Tuscaloosa near his own commercial office building….
One of the most conservative municipalities in Alabama has determined that human rights should trump all other parochial issues and public officials are about to state that publicly and unanimously, according to a source who would rather not be identified. Never mind that it was probably a federal lawsuit that led to the change of heart in Hoover City Hall.
The City of Hoover will issue a Proclamation on Monday that was approved unanimously by the City Council at its most recent “working session,” according to the source. There will apparently be a little ceremony at Monday’s council meeting presenting a framed copy of it to the Principal of Gwin Elementary School, “a handy occasion to make a rather sweeping announcement of the city’s (new) position on human rights.”
“Keeping in mind Tip O’Neill’s statement that all politics is local, this Proclamation reflects the consensus of the City Council and appears to eviscerate and excoriate much of the jingoistic, xenophobic extremism contained in (Alabama’s anti-immigration law) HB56 and in whatever upcoming bastardization the extremists in the Alabama Senate might seek to introduce,” the source says. “For a municipality with as questionable a track record as Hoover has in observance of anti-discrimination policy to adopt something so ‘humane’ represents a reflection of a new direction in that city’s official thinking. It should certainly eliminate much of the racial and ethnical demonization that characterized the political races the last time around.”
Proposed Bill Would Give Public School Credit for Studying Creationism
A bill introduced in the Alabama Legislature, House Bill 133, proposes allowing churches to teach a creationism class away from public school campuses for school credit — if parents and school boards give permission and churches are willing to transport students, teach the class and cover students’ expenses.
Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Rainbow City, introduced the bill, apparently at the behest of Joseph Kennedy, a former teacher who got fired in 1980 for reading the Bible and teaching creationism at Spring Garden Elementary School when parents of the public school sixth-grade students objected and he refused to stop. A member of Southside Baptist Church near Gadsden, Kennedy told the Birmingham News he and his supporters have formed a board of directors for the Institute for Biblical Studies, which would offer a creationism class if a released-time class law were passed.
The bill is scheduled to be debated Feb. 28 in the House Education Policy Committee.
“It looks like it’s a very viable way to offer some elective courses for kids that have many opportunities for electives,” Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, said. She chairs the committee. “To me, this would be a real good one, to be able to study religion.”
But former Samford University professor Thomas Berg, now constitutional law professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, said even giving elective credit could be considered too much involvement by the school.
The Bill Goes to the Senate, but Voters Will Have a Chance to Defeat it at the Polls in November
by Glynn Wilson
The Republican controlled House of Representatives in Alabama voted 65-22 this week to pass a bill dubbed “The Goodyear Bill” that is being billed by Republicans and the mainstream media as “Gov. Robert Bentley’s jobs plan,” another amendment to be tacked onto an already overburdened constitution that would authorize new and expanding corporations to keep the income taxes of their employees rather than paying them to the state.
No where in the Republican rhetoric or the news coverage does anybody address the fact that the state can’t afford to give away more tax money to corporations which already pay no corporate taxes, because the state is already too broke to continue funding many state agencies and programs. They state can’t afford to continue maintaining some roads. There is all kinds of hand-wringing going on over continued funding for the state retirement system.
While Governor Bentley pledged to raise no taxes yet continue fully funding law enforcement in his State of the State Address, it has become obvious that the state does not have the money to continue paying for an already over-crowded prison system.
The bill now moves over to the 35-member Senate. It will need 21 votes to pass. If approved there and signed by the governor, opponents would have a chance to raise a campaign to stop its approval at the polls. The voters would have a shot at defeating it in a referendum vote during the general election in November.
A scheme to privatize Florida’s prisons failed in the state Senate this week by a vote of 19-21 after a huge public outcry led by Florida working families, community and civil rights groups.
The plan was backed by Republican Gov. Rick Scott, private prison companies and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), one of the key players in the drive to privatize prisons throughout the nation. The corporate takeover would have cost 3,800 workers their jobs, and Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams says it would have “devastated small communities, working families’ economic stability and safety.”
The privatization bill was one of the largest efforts so far to give private corporations control of a state’s prison system. It would have turned over control of 27 state prisons and work camps in 18 south Florida counties to the GEO Group—formerly Wackenhut Corrections.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara says prison privatization puts the public’s safety at risk.
“In the continued race to the bottom, private prison contractors reduce pay, benefits and quality of personnel in the interest of slashing budgets; but as in most other areas of life, you get what you pay for,” Mascara said in a letter to state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a Republican. “I know when protecting our families from the most heinous individuals in our society, I don’t want the guard who will work for the least pay—I want a professional who receives proper training, a reasonable wage and benefits and the security of knowing that the people of Florida, and its elected leaders, appreciate the value of the often thankless job they do.”
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) will face the residents of Jefferson County in a town hall meeting on Tuesday, February 21, beginning at noon at the Harbert Center, 2019 4th Avenue North Room No. 100.
Shelby will address the legislative agenda for the second session of the 112th Congress as well as important issues facing the nation and the state. Following his remarks, Shelby will open the floor to questions and comments from the public and the press.
“Over the years, these meetings have provided an excellent opportunity for area residents to listen and voice their opinions on the activities of our government,” Shelby said in a press release promoting the event. “This will be a great chance to discuss the important issues facing our state and our nation.”
This will be Senator Shelby’s 1,704th county visit since being elected to serve the state of Alabama in the U.S. Senate, his public relations staff says. Shelby holds a meeting in each county every year. This will be the only chance this year for residents of Jefferson to voice their concerns to the conservative, Republican senator in person.
The Alabama Democratic Party Also Opposes This Legislation
by Glynn Wilson
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama branch of the AFL-CIO is mounting an opposition campaign to try and stop passage of bills in the state Legislature that would create another amendment to the state’s already overburdened constitution that would allow corporations to keep their employees income tax withholdings.
“The Alabama AFL-CIO is very much in favor of job creation in the state, even if incentives are required to get them,” state AFL-CIO president Al Henley said. “But we believe taking money from the Education Trust Fund and denying our children as good an education as possible to get the jobs is a horrible idea.”
If passed by both houses and signed into law by the governor, House Bills 159 and 160 would have to be approved by voters at the polls in November to become law.
“It is a sorry state of affairs when Alabama taxpayers have to give the wealthiest corporations in the world money to stay in the state,” Henley said.
Opponents Say Unfair Anti-Immigration Law Must by Repealed
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Several hundred protesters filled the courtyard outside Alabama’s Statehouse on Valentine’s Day in a “One Heart One Alabama” rally aimed at convincing lawmakers to love one another rather than hate their Latin brother. Opponents don’t want the controversial anti-immigration law “tweaked” as legislators have promised since alleged “unintended consequences” drove away new industry from creating jobs in the state. They want the law repealed, as the Obama Justice Department is still suing to have it overturned in federal court.
Protesters delivered lollipops and Valentines to lawmakers, urging them to strike down the law. They carried signs with messages such as “Gov. Bentley, don’t you have a heart?” and “No Juan Crow,” along with “Una Familia, Una Alabama,” all while chanting in English and Spanish, “no more HB56″ and “one family, one Alabama.”
During the Bush years, we specialized in covering the politicization of the U.S. justice system as much as any news organization. Our archives are about the most comprehensive for anyone researching the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, and the original case against Richard Scrushy, which Glynn Wilson covered for The New York Times.
