Why exactly are nearly all of the states that are net takers of tax dollars Republican states?
There are two main reasons for this.
There are two main reasons for this.
First, many GOP states are also Southern states that were bastions of Jim Crow, and have large African-American populations that have never really recovered from this. The states have to spend a lot of money dealing with the consequences of racial poverty, mass incarceration etc.
It's worth noting, Southern states are by no means alone in trapping Black families in generational poverty. Northern states redlined neighborhoods aggressively and today their schools are MORE segregated.
But Southern states have larger Black pops so the effect is bigger there.
But Southern states have larger Black pops so the effect is bigger there.
Second, a lot of red states have large veteran populations and military installations.
As a result, programs like the VA system, the GI bill, and tax benefits for veterans flow disproportionately to red states.
As a result, programs like the VA system, the GI bill, and tax benefits for veterans flow disproportionately to red states.
One last point I'll make: there's a difference between saying a state has budget problems and saying a state is a net taker from federally-funded programs. Many red states DO have budget problems, but that's beside the point from whether federal tax $ is flowing into them.
As an example, look at Texas.
In terms of federal tax income-outcome, Texas is actually one of the few net-positive red states. But that doesn't mean its budget is good! It's had a lot of problems in recent years, particularly around school funding and how to fix property taxes.
In terms of federal tax income-outcome, Texas is actually one of the few net-positive red states. But that doesn't mean its budget is good! It's had a lot of problems in recent years, particularly around school funding and how to fix property taxes.
