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States of the Union

States of the Union, FY10

Here's where you can compare the amount of money each state's congressional delegation obtained in earmarks--normally 'pet projects' that benefit the sponsoring lawmaker's home district--according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. Congressmen from populous districts say they need earmarks to get their fair share of federal dollars, since they represent more people. Reps from smaller states say their states would get passed over by the beauracracy if they didn't bring home federal funds via earmarks. On the map below, if a state's reps sponsored many earmarks (see Washington), that state will appear red. If they sponsored relatively few (e.g. Wyoming), the state will appear green.

Label Range Low Range High
Low 5760000 244127499
Medium 244127499 488254998
High 488254998 739780300

State Population Earmarks Earmarks $/person
California 36961664 $739,780,300 $20
Texas 24782302 $457,931,400 $18
New York 19541453 $316,658,165 $16
Florida 18537969 $418,269,700 $22
Illinois 12910409 $218,021,800 $16
Pennsylvania 12604767 $366,343,000 $29
Ohio 11542645 $241,720,200 $20
Michigan 9969727 $223,700,400 $22
Georgia 9829211 $149,607,000 $15
North Carolina 9380884 $155,804,900 $16
New Jersey 8707739 $322,807,850 $37
Virginia 7882590 $281,657,500 $35
Washington 6664195 $287,388,600 $43
Arizona 6595778 $98,031,000 $14
Massachusetts 6593587 $201,591,300 $30
Indiana 6423113 $113,371,000 $17
Tennessee 6296254 $242,270,000 $38
Missouri 5987580 $213,722,000 $35
Maryland 5699478 $303,738,400 $53
Wisconsin 5654774 $169,580,210 $29
Minnesota 5266214 $68,923,100 $13
Colorado 5024748 $87,997,500 $17
Alabama 4708708 $294,246,000 $62
South Carolina 4561242 $125,178,090 $27
Louisiana 4492076 $158,260,000 $35
Kentucky 4314113 $231,372,250 $53
Oregon 3825657 $78,536,174 $20
Oklahoma 3687050 $91,212,000 $24
Connecticut 3518288 $127,922,800 $36
Iowa 3007856 $163,944,700 $54
Mississippi 2951996 $418,923,000 $141
Arkansas 2889450 $114,814,164 $39
Kansas 2818747 $153,299,000 $54
Utah 2784572 $216,410,000 $77
Nevada 2643085 $211,005,675 $79
New Mexico 2009671 $263,422,540 $131
West Virginia 1819777 $352,139,000 $193
Nebraska 1796619 $59,651,800 $33
Idaho 1545801 $66,938,000 $43
New Hampshire 1324575 $87,188,000 $65
Maine 1318301 $81,799,000 $62
Hawaii 1295178 $425,746,850 $328
Rhode Island 1053209 $81,337,000 $77
Montana 974989 $121,651,450 $124
Delaware 885122 $45,769,900 $51
South Dakota 812383 $91,154,150 $112
Alaska 698473 $116,270,850 $166
North Dakota 646844 $151,105,350 $233
Vermont 621760 $100,316,280 $161
Wyoming 544270 $5,760,000 $10

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