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Apr. 24, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CENSUS REPORT: Nevada last in federal spending per capita

Ranking extends long-standing trend

By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Nevada came in dead last in federal largess in fiscal year 2006 at $5,852 per capita, a new Census report released Wednesday showed.

The spending in Nevada compares to $16,263 in the top-ranked state of Louisiana.

The high spending for Louisiana and Mississippi, at $14,516, probably has to do with post-Hurricane Katrina aid. The two states are also among the nation's poorest.

Reasons for Nevada being a donor state in terms of federal funding might have more to do with 87 percent of the land being in federal control and the state's rapid population growth rather than the ability of the congressional delegation to bring home the bucks.

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    • A Tax Foundation report released last year showed Nevada received only 73 cents in federal spending for every dollar that its residents paid in federal income taxes, based on 2004 numbers. Foundation officials cited the federal ownership issue as one reason for Nevada's ranking, along with a high per capita income.

    Other reasons cited for Nevada's ranking include a low rate of obtaining federal grant funding and the fact that federal funds often come in the form of retiree benefits that states cannot control.

    The ranking is not new. Nevada has typically come in at the low end of the states for various reasons, officials said.

    Jon Summers, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said federal grants often require matching state and local funds that are not always available.

    "It's another reason why Senator Reid fights hard to get funding specifically for Nevada projects," said Summers, who noted that the report dates to before Reid's ascension as majority leader. "Recognizing that Nevada tends to be closer to the bottom of the list, the senator works to get Congress to direct funds for programs important to our state."

    Matt Leffingwell, a spokesman for Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said the funding formula for disbursement of federal dollars has not kept pace with Nevada's population growth.

    "Congressman Porter has consistently worked to ensure that Nevada receives federal monies through the appropriations process and other legislative means," Leffingwell said.

    David Cherry, communications director for Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Nevada does not have large numbers of the types of populations that generate increased federal dollars, such as those with higher poverty levels.

    If special appropriations to states, called earmarks, were curtailed, it would eliminate one way Nevada can improve that disparity, Cherry said.

    Berkley has fought to bring federal dollars to Nevada for various projects, but a potential source of additional revenue, supporting creation of a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, is one she never will back, Cherry said.



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    slm wrote on April 24, 2008 03:20 PM: Thank You RJR for pointing out 3.2 billion in Federal BLM land sales. And just where is all this $$$ going?...right back into who's pocket?


    RJReader wrote on April 24, 2008 11:55 AM: If the Census report would add in the $3.2 billion received as of February 2008 from the sale of BLM land that becomes federal dollars spent in NV, I'm certain the state would be ranked at the top with LA and MS.


    oldlawdawg wrote on April 24, 2008 10:59 AM: Thanks loads, Harry! If you'd care about something other than partisan politics and your own financial well being, maybe you'd have time for Nevada!

    Porter and Buckley are no better.

    To hell with the lot of you!


    nvkorruption wrote on April 24, 2008 10:37 AM: Nevada to Washington and other states is a third world nation.

    The corruption and mis management of state agencies, roads, air quality, education, the medical clinic issue, courts and elected official's ineptitude in preventing and resolving matters where federal funds and interests could be increased is the primary reason the feds are neutral.

    Nevada cant be taken seriously until leadership starts to show responsibilty. Not when the state is in trouble or officials know there are investigations ongoing.

    The corruption and conflicts of interests has to end before the feds have anything to work with.


    Jerry Mac wrote on April 24, 2008 07:40 AM: Russ - Remember that allocations are established by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Robert Byrd (D-WV, the famous ex-KKK member) is now chairman and has over thirty buildings named after him (and a few bridges) in West Virginia.


    Jerry Mac wrote on April 24, 2008 07:35 AM: Humorous when our illustrious Senate Majority Leader has his priorities set on bashing the Bush cronies instead of representing his constituents. During his tenure, Reid probably wont even get a building named after him (not withstanding the ever so empty Harry Reid UNLV Technology Park).


    Russ wrote on April 24, 2008 07:26 AM: I believe the problem is in Washington with a Republican administration. Remember to ask yourself this question in the next election. What has a Republican done for you lately? Besides give us the largest national debt in history along with the quagmire in Iraq and highest gas prices ever along with our world wide black eye. Just keep votig for the Bushie types.