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Cost of Government Day (COGD)
[2005] [2004] [2003] [2002] [2001]


Cost of Government Day by State

Below is the Cost of Government Day for each state based on the varying government burdens suffered in each state.  Federal spending burdens vary because relatively higher burdens are borne by states with relatively higher incomes.  Of course, state and local tax and spending burdens vary by state as well.

The highest state Cost of Government Day is once again in Connecticut, with the average worker toiling all the way until the end of the month, July 31, to pay the costs of government at all levels.  Second place now belongs to New Jersey, with COGD now falling on July 30.  New York is right behind on July 28.  These three mismanaged states have sacrificed economic growth and personal liberty at the expense of the public employee unions, with little consideration given to taxpayers.

California follows up in fourth worst place, with a COGD of July 23.  Dramatically worsening fiscal conditions in this state will lead it to soon challenge the top three for worst state for taxpayers.

Next come Washington, Massachusetts, Maryland and Minnesota, where liberal politicians have felt no serious constraints on raiding the taxpayers for endless funds to curry favor with aligned special interest groups.

STATE BY STATE BREAKDOWN

State

Number of Days
Worked for Govt

2008 Cost of
Government Day

Rank in 2008

United States

197

July 16

 

Alaska

172

June 21

1

Mississippi

181

June 30

2

Montana

182

July 1

3

West Virginia

182

July 1

4

Alabama

183

July 2

5

Kentucky

184

July 3

6

Tennessee

185

July 4

7

Oklahoma

185

July 4

8

New Mexico

186

July 5

9

South Dakota

186

July 5

10

Texas

186

July 5

11

North Dakota

186

July 5

12

Louisiana

187

July 6

13

Delaware

188

July 7

14

Missouri

188

July 7

15

New Hampshire

189

July 8

16

Iowa

190

July 9

17

South Carolina

190

July 9

18

Oregon

190

July 9

19

Michigan

190

July 9

20

Arkansas

191

July 10

21

Indiana

191

July 10

22

Ohio

191

July 10

23

North Carolina

191

July 10

24

Kansas

192

July 11

25

Nebraska

193

July 12

26

Vermont

193

July 12

27

Georgia

193

July 12

28

Maine

194

July 13

29

Wyoming

194

July 13

30

Arizona

194

July 13

31

Idaho

194

July 13

32

Pennsylvania

195

July 14

33

Utah

195

July 14

34

Illinois

197

July 16

35

Colorado

197

July 16

36

Wisconsin

198

July 17

37

Rhode Island

198

July 17

38

Virginia

199

July 18

39

Nevada

200

July 19

40

Hawaii

200

July 19

41

Florida

200

July 19

42

Minnesota

201

July 20

43

Maryland

202

July 21

44

Massachusetts

202

July 21

45

Washington

203

July 22

46

California

204

July 23

47

New York

209

July 28

48

Washington, DC

207

July 26

--

New Jersey

211

July 30

49

Connecticut

212

July 31

50

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