August 12, 2011 - Cost of Government Day Has Arrived

Every year, the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation and the Center for Fiscal Accountability calculate Cost of Government Day. This is the day on which the average American has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of the spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government at the federal, state, and local levels.

In 2011, Cost of Government Day falls on August 12.  Working people must toil 224 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government, a full 27 days longer than 2008.

In other words, in 2011 the cost of government consumes 61.42 percent of national income.

To read the report on your computer, and to view additional resources, including a chart room, media coverage, as well as last year's report click on the index below.

For a pdf of the full report, click here.

 

Summary

2011 Report

• About the Author/The Thomas Jefferson Fellowship
• A Message from Grover Norquist and CFA Executive Director Mattie Corrao
• Overview of Results
• Cost of Government Day Components
• State by State Breakdown
• The Government Spending Burden
• State Tax Increases
• Government Employees
• The Regulatory Burden
• Concluding Remarks: The Path Towards an Earlier Cost of Government Day

Case Studies

• A Continuing Case Study: TARP and AARA
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
• Dodd-Frank
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Interstate Taxation
• Post-Office Reform
• Federal Takeover of Tax Preparation

Methodology
Chart Room
COGD Launch Event: Sin Tax Night
Media Coverage
2010 Report