WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR $13,000?

We can buy a lot of things for $13,000. A small car, a nice boat, a year's worth of in-state tuition and room & board at UNL, and much more. But just a few days after T-Day, the $13,000 I'm thinking of is the total annual federal tax bill for the average middle class family that came due April 15th.

According to figures from the Tax Policy Center at the Brookings Institution, the typical working age taxpayer paid $13,112 in federal income and payroll taxes in 2007. That amounts to about 20 percent of the average annual family income of $64,000.

Detailed Answers
With 20 cents out of every dollar going to pay federal taxes, taxpayers have every right to ask where the money goes. You deserve detailed answers and not just a pie chart that shows expenditures in broad generalities. You deserve real transparency and accountability.

A non-profit, non-partisan strategy center known as Third Way came up with an "itemized receipt" of the average taxpayer's contribution to the Treasury; and it's a real eye opener for those who want to know what they get for their $13,000.

The "Big Six"
More than two out of every three dollars of your annual federal tax bill goes to six areas. The top six recipients, in this order, are Social Security, national defense, Medicare, interest on the national debt, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These six get a combined total of $8,682, which is more than two-thirds of your $13,000 annual tax bill. Add the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the amount spent for defense – Iraq costs alone would come in at number 6 – and the big six account for over 70% of the average tax bill.

Domestic Programs Get One-Third
No other expenditure even comes close to the big six, yet it seems the other expenses are the ones that get much of the attention and criticism. For instance, I occasionally hear from people who say we can’t afford the border security fence, yet only 13 cents of your $13,000 tax bill goes to build it. And, how about all the toy recalls lately due to lead paint. The Consumer Product Safety Commission gets only 29 cents of your federal tax bill.

One expenditure category that draws the most criticism - earmarks - go a long way toward funding needed infrastructure projects and other Nebraska priorities. Earmarks account for less than one-half of one percent of the budget, and consume only $60 of the average annual tax bill. Health care research gets $133. Renewable energy research, less than $7. Aid to public schools receives $108. NASA gets $75. National parks, $12. The FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies get $41.

Agriculture subsidies have sure been in the news lately yet they get $99 of your tax bill. That's one area where I hope we can one day cut the budget by limiting subsidies so wealthy mega farms no longer qualify.

As you can see, the programs that only get a third of your federal tax bill are for domestic purposes and most people would probably say are deserving of funds but I would like to hear from you. As a taxpayer, are you satisfied or do you think your country should have other priorities? Do you think you’re getting your money’s worth? Please write, e mail, or call me.

For those who would like to see the complete report I have included a link to the website. http://www.thirdway.org/products/category/5. For the record. The President and his staff get 18 cents of your entire federal tax bill. The 535 Members of Congress and our staffs and supporting organizations combined get $8.

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	Column	April 21, 2008
WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR $13,000? We can buy a lot of things for $13,000. A small car, a nice boat, a year's worth of in-state tuition and room & board at UNL, and much more. But just a few days after T-Day, the $13,000 I'm thinking of is the total annual federal tax bill for the average middle class family that came due April 15th. According to figures from the Tax Policy Center at the Brookings Institution, the typical working age taxpayer paid $13,112 in federal income and payroll taxes in 2007. That amounts to about 20 percent of the average annual family income of $64,000. Detailed Answers With 20 cents out of every dollar going to pay federal taxes, taxpayers have every right to ask where the money goes. You deserve detailed answers and not just a pie chart that shows expenditures in broad generalities. You deserve real transparency and accountability. A non-profit, non-partisan strategy center known as Third Way came up with an "itemized receipt" of the average taxpayer's contribution to the Treasury; and it's a real eye opener for those who want to know what they get for their $13,000. The "Big Six" More than two out of every three dollars of your annual federal tax bill goes to six areas. The top six recipients, in this order, are Social Security, national defense, Medicare, interest on the national debt, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These six get a combined total of $8,682, which is more than two-thirds of your $13,000 annual tax bill. Add the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the amount spent for defense – Iraq costs alone would come in at number 6 – and the big six account for over 70% of the average tax bill. Domestic Programs Get One-Third No other expenditure even comes close to the big six, yet it seems the other expenses are the ones that get much of the attention and criticism. For instance, I occasionally hear from people who say we can’t afford the border security fence, yet only 13 cents of your $13,000 tax bill goes to build it. And, how about all the toy recalls lately due to lead paint. The Consumer Product Safety Commission gets only 29 cents of your federal tax bill. One expenditure category that draws the most criticism - earmarks - go a long way toward funding needed infrastructure projects and other Nebraska priorities. Earmarks account for less than one-half of one percent of the budget, and consume only $60 of the average annual tax bill. Health care research gets $133. Renewable energy research, less than $7. Aid to public schools receives $108. NASA gets $75. National parks, $12. The FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies get $41. Agriculture subsidies have sure been in the news lately yet they get $99 of your tax bill. That's one area where I hope we can one day cut the budget by limiting subsidies so wealthy mega farms no longer qualify. As you can see, the programs that only get a third of your federal tax bill are for domestic purposes and most people would probably say are deserving of funds but I would like to hear from you. As a taxpayer, are you satisfied or do you think your country should have other priorities? Do you think you’re getting your money’s worth? Please write, e mail, or call me. For those who would like to see the complete report I have included a link to the website. http://www.thirdway.org/products/category/5. For the record. The President and his staff get 18 cents of your entire federal tax bill. The 535 Members of Congress and our staffs and supporting organizations combined get $8. ###