Group Releases Annual Cost of Government Study

WASHINGTON–  Americans for Tax Reform has released the latest edition of its annual Cost of Government Day Study.  The Cost of Government Day for 2000 is June 16.  The study found that out of 366 days in 2000, the average American will work 167 days for the government.  Among the various costs involved with all federal, state, and local governments are:

–      59.1 days for state and local spending and regulations –      37.9 days for federal regulations –      29.3 days for Social Security and Medicare

–      12.5 days for national defense –      9.4 days for interest payments –      18.8 days for all other federal programs

 

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), issued the following statement regarding the report:

"The bad news is that the average American has to work 167 days to pay for his or her share of the cost of government.  The good news is that over the last nine years the cost of government has steadily decreased.

"In 1992, the cost of government day was July 10.  For 2000, the cost of government day is June 16.  This is great news for taxpayers, as it demonstrates that the pro-taxpayer forces are winning.  But the battle is not yet over, and we must continue to work diligently to lower the cost of federal, state, and local governments across the country."

You can obtain a copy of the Cost of Government Day study by visiting ATR\’s website http://www.atr.org.  If you do not have Internet access, please contact ATR at 202-785-0266 for a copy of the report.