Forty Two Percent of Every Income Tax Dollar Goes to Military Spending

Watchdog group says schools and education on the other hand, received four (4) percent.

Visit nationalpriorities.org for more information.

(NORTHAMPTON, Mass.) - As taxes come due on April 15th, taxpayers can take stock of how the federal government spent their 2007 income tax dollars: over 40 percent went towards military spending, while education received just over 4 percent, according to a new analysis released by the National Priorities Project (NPP), a non-profit research organization that examines the local impact of federal spending policies.

In Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?, NPP offers a breakdown of how the federal government spent the median income family's 2007 tax payment in each state and almost 200 cities.

In 2007, according to the National Priorities Project, the federal government spent 42.2 percent of every income tax dollar on military spending.

This figure includes 28.7 percent for current military and war spending, 10 percent for interest on military debt and 3.5 percent for veterans' benefits.

At the same time, 8.7 percent went towards anti-poverty programs, 4.4 percent towards education, training and social services, and 2.6 percent towards the environment, energy and science programs.

"The current Administration made a priority of funding a half a trillion dollar war in Iraq and a yearly military budget of the same amount at the expense of virtually everything else," said Greg Speeter, spokesperson for the National Priorities Project.

"Every elected official owes their taxpaying constituents an accounting for spending their tax dollars on war and excessive weapon systems while people struggle to hold onto their jobs and their homes."

The National Priorities Project is also the leading source for the cost of the Iraq War, offering breakdowns of the cost by state, city and congressional district.

NPP's latest tax day publication also looks ahead at the Bush Administration's proposed federal spending and tax cuts for Fiscal Year 2009. Under the President's proposal, the Iraq War would receive another $139 billion in Iraq War spending, bringing the total allocated to the war to $745 billion.

Also under the President's proposal, tax cuts for the richest 10 per cent would cost $116.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2009. At the same time, spending on renewable energy and conservation would receive $1.3 billion.

"Voters have made clear in the latest polls that they are not happy with the country's current direction," noted Speeter. "With a quick look at how the government spent last year's income tax dollars, it's easy to see why."

The 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. For more information, go to nationalpriorities.org.