Ocho años de guerra de Estados Unidos en Afganistan: 

  los dolares siguen sumando.

Northampton, MA- Octubre 7 , 2009 marca el octavo aniversario de la invasión de Estados Unidos a Afganistan.  Los análisis del Proyecto de Prioridades Nacionales (NPP) nos dicen que, hasta ahora, las operaciones militares de los Estados Unidos en Afganistan han tenido un costo para los pagadores de impuestos, de $228 billones.  Tan solo en el año fiscal (fy)2009 se han gastado $60.2 billones.  Esto representa un porcentaje de $5 billones de costos mensuales durante fy 2009, y un aumento de $3.5 billones por mes en comparación del fy 2008.

Las proyecciones de los gastos militares para las guerras en Irak y Afganistan para el fy 2010 son de $130 billones.  En el pasado, los fondos estaban distribuidos entre las dos guerras en una proporción de 70/30, con la mayoría de los fondos designados a las operaciones en Irak.  En fy 2010, se proyecta que esta distribución cambie y que los gastos de guerra en Afganistan se incrementen al 50 por ciento del total de los costos de guerras.

NPP cuenta con varia información relacionada con la guerra en Afganistan, incluyendo: 

Los contadores del costo de guerras:  Afganistan, Irak y los dos gastos juntos, http://www.costofwar.com/

Las “concesiones” de los gastos de guerra: por estado, distritos Congrecionales y mas de 1,000 ciudades y pueblos, ayudando a una mirada mas clara de la magnitud e impacto de los números del presupuesto, http://www.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoffs 

“Información Rápida” acerca de Afganistan:  el nivel de las tropas, los fondos anuales, etc., http://www.nationalpriorities.org/2009/09/02/quick-facts-US-military-operations-Afganistan 

Costos de guerra en Afganistan: un texto elemental de los costos humanos y económicos de la guerra, http://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost of war afghanistan 

“Los números son asombrosos.  $228 billones de gastos de guerra en Afganistan son equivalentes a 800,000 becas de cuatro años para estudiantes en los Estados Unidos”, dice Jo Comerford. “$228 billones también se traducen a $469.1 millones de impuestos pagados por gente en Boston, MA lo cual equivale a pagar seguro medico para 140, 600 personas; $1.5 billones para la gente que vive en Alameda County, CA que equivalen a construir 4,341 unidades habitacionales; o $89.2 millones para la gente de Evanston, IL lo que equivale al salario anual de 1,372 maestras de escuelas primarias.”

Con la aprobación del presupuesto del Departamento de Defensa para fy 2010, el total de los gastos de guerras de los Estados Unidos en Irak y Afganistan excederá $1 trillón para Marzo del próximo año.

Para mas información:   www.nationalpriorities.org

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jo Comerford, 413.559.1649 (c), 413.584.9556 (w)
jo@nationalpriorities.org, www.nationalpriorities.org

The President's Budget: Bush to Obama
National and State Impact 2008-2010
Focus on energy, education, healthcare and military 

NORTHAMPTON, MA – National Priorities Project (NPP) has released a comprehensive federal budget tool which spans fiscal years 2008 to 2010, offering a comparison of the Bush and Obama budgets, while highlighting economic stimulus spending in 2009.

This tool offers both national and state-level numbers, with a focus on energy, education, healthcare and military.  It examines both the quantity and quality of federal spending.  

Key findings include:

Even modest increases in spending at the national level, such as a four percent increase in Environment, Energy and Science from 2008 to 2010 can have a major impact at the state level.  For example, Florida will see an increase in funding for weatherization assistance from $2 million in 2008 to $89.7 million in 2010 (in constant dollars).

Education spending is down in 2010 relative to fiscal year 2008 primarily because subsidies to higher education lenders have been eliminated.  Yet students will receive more financial aid because education spending will shift to direct loans.

States will see a jump in funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program.  For example, Massachusetts received $74.5 million in 2008 and is proposed to receive $321.1 million in 2010.

Though military spending growth has slowed it claims twenty percent of discretionary and mandatory spending.

“In the FY2010 budget, President Obama offers us a meaningful and positive step toward new national priorities.  It is up to all of us to engage with his administration and our federal and state elected officials so that our voices are part of the national debate at such a crtical – yet promising – time for our nation,” notes Jo Comerford, NPP Executive Director.

February 18, 2009

Contact: Suzanne Smith, Research Director
413.320.8530 (cell), smsmith@nationalpriorities.org
Jo Comerford, Executive Director
413.559.1649 (cell)
 

As the U.S. Military begins offering citizenship for service to fill its ranks

NPP Releases Recruitment 2008: Age, Race, Income, Education 

National Priorities Project (NPP) finds a drop in age among new recruits,
an over representation of low- and middle-income individuals,
an increase in Black recruits and a decrease in Hispanic recruits 

Online Tool Allows the Public to Analyze Army Data
by State, County, Zip Code, Education Level, "Quality of Recruit"
 

NORTHAMPTON, MA – A new NPP analysis notes a significant drop in age among new recruits. Using census material, combined with data on 2008 Army enlistment obtained through a Freedom of Information Act, NPP research also uncovers a continued over representation of recruits from low- and middle-income families, an increase in Black recruits, decrease in Hispanic recruits and important education trends.

This work is a result of an expanded NPP initiative, which now includes a database of 2004-2008 military recruitment numbers broken down by zip code, county and state. A snapshot analysis and overview of current military recruitment data, which includes a ranking of counties by recruits per thousand youth, charts and tables on a particular county, zip code or state is available at www.nationalpriorities.org.

"The education trends are striking," notes Suzanne Smith, Research Director for National Priorities Project. "While both Hispanic and Black recruits are more likely to have a high school diploma than whites, as a group they have lower AFQT scores. This finding makes us question their opportunities as enlisted personnel."

NPP's new data shows:

• Low- and middle income neighborhoods continue to be overrepresented. Active-duty Army recruits disproportionately come from low-to middle income neighborhoods. Neighborhood incomes in the lowest 10% of population were underrepresented, as were those in the top 20%.

• The age of new recruits fell. Fifty-two percent of new recruits in 2008 were below the age of 21. This is up from 48.5% in 2007.

• The percentage of recruits who are black has risen since 2005, increasing from 15% in 2005 to 16.6% in 2008. The sharpest increase was between 2007 and 2008.

• The percentage of new recruits who are Hispanic has fallen a full percentage point between 2005 and 2008, with 10.85% of new recruits identifying themselves as Hispanic.

• Both Hispanic and Black recruits are also more likely than whites to be women, and to come from low-income neighborhoods.

• Both Hispanic and Black recruits are more likely to have a high school diploma, but as a group have lower scores on the AFQT than white recruits.

Jo Comerford, NPP's Executive Director adds, "Even more striking than the finding that 52% of new recruits are below the age of 21 is the fact that 82.2% of new recruits are 24 or under. Once again we are compelled to note the Army's disproportionate reliance on young people, people of color and individuals from low- and middle-income families to fill its ranks. And this on the heels of the recent decision to recruit immigrants with temporary visas, offering them a fast-track to citizenship in exchange for service – because the Army still cannot meet its ever-expandng quotas."

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent.  Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels.  For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

February 10, 2009

Contact: Suzanne Smith, Research Director
413.320.8530 (cell), smsmith@nationalpriorities.org
Jo Comerford, Executive Director
413.559.1649 (cell)
 

On the eve of a significant nation-wide army recruiter stand-down – February 13, 2008

National Priorities Project (NPP) finds significant gap
in Army's 2008 quantity and quality goals

Online Tool Allows the Public to Analyze Army Data
by State, County, Zip Code, Education Level, "Quality of Recruit"
 

NORTHAMPTON, MA – A new NPP analysis highlights a significant gap in the Army's 2008 quantity and quality goals. Using census material, combined with data on 2008 Army enlistment obtained through a Freedom of Information Act, NPP research also uncovers a continued trend of disproportionate recruits from southern states. This quantity and quality-focused release will be followed by one on February 18, 2009 highlighting neighborhood income and race.

This work is a result of an expanded NPP initiative, which now includes a database of 2004-2008 military recruitment numbers broken down by zip code, county and state. A snapshot analysis and overview of current military recruitment data, which includes a ranking of counties by recruits per thousand youth, charts and tables on a particular county, zip code or state is available at www.nationalpriorities.org.

"Analysts project a $60 billion increase in the 2010 defense budget, largely tied to increasing troop levels. This increase does not include a six month supplemental funding request to pay for the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which is expected to approach, if not exceed $70 billion," notes Suzanne Smith, Research Director for National Priorities Project. "These budget figures, combined with a call for increased troop numbers, are striking in light of a report recently issued by a Pentagon advisory group which noted that 'rising costs of military personnel, their healthcare and overhead' exacerbated the problem of an 'unsustainable' Defense Department budget in tough economic times."

NPP's new data shows:
 

• While the army claims 80,517 new army recruits this year, surpassing its goal of 80,000, in actuality, its figures reflect the number of individuals with whom they have some form of – often non-binding – contract. The number of accessions, or actual recruits who reported for duty in 2008, was 69,357.

• The percent of recruits with regular high school diplomas, at 74% is 16 percentage points below the army's goal of 90%. This is the fourth year running that the army has missed its "quality" goal.

• The highest recruitment rates – defined as the number of recruits per thousand of 15-24 year-old population – were found in the south with Texas, Florida and Georgia ranking in the top five states.
   

Jo Comerford, NPP's Executive Director adds, "Four years of missed recruiting quantity and quality goals, and recent news of the investigation of four stress-related suicides in the Houston Recruiting Battalion since 2005, raise important questions which must be tackled. Not only are education rates down but evidence shows increases in physical and felony waivers, the latter having doubled from 2006 to 2007. It stands to reason that we must ask whether the Army has exhausted its potential supply of new quality recruits. Its announced intent to increase its base by 65,000 new recruits, should signal a clarion call for a new look at the impact – especially on army personnel – of an ever-expanding military. A new approach to national security is what is needed. Clearly, we are being called to a new strategy – for this new day."

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent.  Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels.  For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

January 21, 2009

Contact: Suzanne Smith, Research Director
413.320.8530 (cell), smsmith@nationalpriorities.org
Jo Comerford, Executive Director
413.559.1649 (cell)
 

On the heels of the U.S. Army's announced
goal of 65,000 additional recruits

National Priorities Project (NPP) finds significant gap
in Army's 2008 quantity and quality goals

Online Tool Allows the Public to Analyze Army Data
by State, County, Zip Code, Education Level, “Quality of Recruit”
 

NORTHAMPTON, MA – A new NPP analysis highlights a significant gap in the Army's 2008 quantity and quality goals. Using census material, combined with data on 2008 Army enlistment obtained through a Freedom of Information Act, NPP research also uncovers a continued trend of disproportionate recruits from southern states.

This work is a result of an expanded NPP initiative, which now includes a database of 2004-2008 military recruitment numbers broken down by zip code, county and state. A snapshot analysis and overview of current military recruitment data, which includes a ranking of counties by recruits per thousand youth, charts and tables on a particular county, zip code or state is available at www.nationalpriorities.org.

“Analysts project a $60 billion increase in the 2010 defense budget, largely tied to increasing troop levels. This increase does not include a six month supplemental funding request to pay for the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which is expected to approach, if not exceed $70 billion,” notes Suzanne Smith, Research Director for National Priorities Project. “These budget figures, combined with a call for increased troop numbers, are striking in light of a report recently issued by a Pentagon advisory group which noted that 'rising costs of military personnel, their healthcare and overhead' exacerbated the problem of an 'unsustainable' Defense Department budget in tough economic times.”

 NPP's new data shows:

• While the army claims 80,517 new army recruits this year, surpassing its goal of 80,000, in actuality, its figures reflect the number of individuals with whom they have some form of – often non-binding – contract. The number of accessions, or actual recruits who reported for duty in 2008, was 69,357.

• The percent of Tier 1 recruits, at 74% is 16 percentage points below the army's goal of 90%. This is the fourth year running that the army has missed its “quality” goal.

• The highest recruitment rates – defined as the number of recruits per thousand of 15-24 year-old population – were found in the south with Texas, Florida and Georgia ranking in the top five states.

Jo Comerford, NPP's Executive Director adds, “Four years of missed recruiting quantity and quality goals, combined with dramatic increases in the recruitment budget, raise important questions which must be tackled. Not only are education rates down but evidence shows increases in physical and felony waivers, the latter having doubled from 2006 to 2007. It stands to reason that we must ask whether the Army has exhausted its potential supply of new quality recruits. Its announced intent to increase its base by 65,000 additional recruits, should signal a clarion call for a new look at the realities of an ever-expanding military. A new approach to national security is what is needed. Clearly, we are being called to a new strategy – for this new day.”

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent.  Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels.  For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

Contact: Jo Comerford, Executive Director
Jillian Hanson, Communications Director
National Priorities Project
Office: 413-584-9556
Cell: 413-559-1649 (J. Comerford)
Cell: 413-297-4917 (J. Hanson)
jo@nationalpriorities.org
jillian@nationalpriorities.org

 

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND THE REAL COST OF OIL:
A NEW REPORT SHOWS U.S. SPENDS BILLIONS TO DEFEND ACCESS TO GLOBAL ENERGY RESERVES

Northampton, MA – October 14, 2008 – According to a new report from National Priorities Project (NPP), the United States is spending between $97 and $215 billion dollars annually on military action to defend access to oil and natural gas reserves around the globe. The Military Cost of Securing Energy provides a critical analysis of the military cost of defending U.S. energy concerns overseas. The report estimates that the military spends up to 30 percent of its annual budget to secure access to energy resources internationally.

Along with the report, NPP has released corollary fact sheets on energy consumption and renewable alternatives (nationally and by state) and published a web-based quiz to help translate and disseminate these complex findings. These materials contain information about the various options for taking action and moving forward with more sustainable energy planning. The report, fact sheets and quiz can be accessed online here.

The report is authored by Dr. Anita Dancs, Asst. Professor of Economics at Western New England College, with Suzanne Smith, Research Director at NPP, and Mary Orisich, Research Associate at NPP. They have spent the past several months analyzing – using two different processes – the global pursuit of energy by the federal government and the U.S. military to estimate the amount of money being spent.

“The military budget isn't broken down by mission or region of the world, so it isn't obvious at all how many resources are devoted to securing access to and the transport of energy,” says Dr. Dancs. “Because of this, we developed different sets of assumptions and created two methodologies to answer the question.” Dancs adds that after looking carefully at the numbers, it became clear that even without considering the Iraq war, approximately $100 billion of the Department of Defense budget will be used to secure energy resources in 2009. “We hope that by publishing these preliminary results, we can start a national discussion,” she says. “Not only about how to calculate these numbers more precisely, but about the implications of this spending when the federal government only spends a few billion on renewable energy and conservation.”

“These are ground-breaking findings, which are particularly relevant in light of what is happening right now with our economic crisis, climate change, and the volatile cost of oil,” says Jo Comerford, Executive Director of NPP. “Clearly, the road to energy independence must take into account the military cost of securing energy. The U.S. military spends billions of tax dollars to secure global fossil fuels, dollars that could be used to develop renewable energy sources that won't ever run out or cause wars and global conflict. This is news for most people. We're hoping this information will have a profound impact on public engagement with the policy-makers of the next administration.”

Energy expert and author Michael Klare (who is also a member of NPP's board of directors), says this research shows the clear connection between the U.S. military, national security, and U.S. access to global energy supplies. “One of the main reasons that our troops are deployed around the globe is to secure access to energy resources,” Klare says. “This paper shows that, without a doubt, energy security is tied in with national security and military action. The question that follows then is, is this a sustainable strategy – both in terms of the threat of foreign wars and the inevitable cost of human life, and also in terms of the rapid depletion of resources and concurrent destruction of the environment and changing climate – and if not, what do we need to do to change it?” Klare praised the authors for “their original and probing methodology that illuminates the ties between U.S. dependence on foreign oil and U.S. military policy more thoroughly than ever before.”

These newly released findings fall within the larger context of NPP's Energy Priorities Project. This work has two distinct goals: to gain significant funding increases for renewable energy and conservation measures; and to reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and resulting concomitant military strategies aimed at securing access to global energy supplies.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

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Contact:  Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
        413-584-9556 (o); 413-219-5658 (cell)

Now Available:
Local Cost of War Breakdowns Based on President's New Funding Request

As Congress considers President  Bush's request for another $178 billion in total war funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008 and the first part of Fiscal Year 2009, the National Priorities Project (NPP) released today a state-level table and breakdowns of Iraq war spending costs by state, congressional district, county and town, showing the local cost of the additional request and what that amount of money could buy in domestic services for each locality instead.

Of the $178 billion war spending request, $135 billion is dedicated to the Iraq War, with close to $84 billion allocated for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008 and almost $52 billion allocated for the start of Fiscal Year 2009.

NPP's state-level table shows the cost of the Iraq War thus far to each state, the cost to each state of the pending funding request and what that amount could buy each state in health care, school teachers and affordable housing. NPP's "trade-offs" page offers similar breakdowns by congressional district, county, town and state as well.  

For example, the cost to the median Congressional District for the additional war funding would be $284 million.  The cost to St. Louis would be $92 million, Sacramento $161 million, Houston $952 million and New York City $4.5 billion.

"Once again, Congress must decide whether it's going to write a blank check to continue this failed war or whether it's going to require some accountability to bring it  to an end," said Greg Speeter, spokesperson for the National Priorities Project.  "Voters have made clear that the loss of lives and dollars must stop and now is the time for Congress to show they're listening."

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent.  Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels.  For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

###

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

• an analysis and breakdown of total proposed FY 08 war spending;
• a breakdown by state, county and city of Iraq War costs under proposed FY 08 spending;
• a breakdown by state, county and city of Iraq War costs thus far; and
• updated "trade-offs" by state and congressional district, showing what the money spent on the Iraq War could buy each area in local services such as health care for kids, university scholarships and affordable housing units.

"These local numbers bring home the impact of this extraordinary level of war spending," said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "We hope taxpayers will use them to tell Congress to bring an end to it."

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org/cms/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=23892&qid=38177.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-584-9556 (o) 413-219-5658 (cell)

• the amount each state received in Department of Defense procurement contracts, showing that the largest recipients were California ($31.2 billion), Virginia ($26.8 billion) and Texas ($20.6 billion) while the smallest were Idaho ($156), Delaware ($178) and Wyoming ($184).
  
• the amount each state received from the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Nutrition Services, as compared to military spending. While $390.9 billion was distributed for the military in Fiscal Year 2005, $56.8 billion came to states in Department of Education programs.
• total expenditures by state as reported by the CFFR and compared with the information on taxes paid by state. Thirty-one states received more than its taxpayers paid in taxes and 20 states paid more in taxes than came back in federal spending.

These findings follow the release of a recent report by the Political Economy Research Institute which found that the economic impact of military spending that goes to local areas is not as effective at creating jobs as other types of spending. Specifically, the report shows that public spending on education creates more jobs that are higher paying than the same amount of money spent on the military.

Spending data at state and county levels for dozens of federal spending programs from 1983-2005 is also available at The NPP Database.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org/cms/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=964&qid=23126

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-584-9556 (o) 413-219-5658 (cell)

Cost of Iraq War Would Rise to $611 Billion Under New Spending Request;
State Breakdowns Available

• A significant number of counties, 13.2 percent, had below-average percentages of low-income people benefiting from Food Stamps, yet had above-average poverty rates.
• Counties with lower poverty rates and higher median household incomes had lower percentages of low-income people that were Food Stamp recipients.
• The rural South had the highest percentage of enrollment in the Food Stamp program and more than half of all children were eligible for lunches through the National School Lunch Program.

The reasons for some counties having a small percentage of low-income people in the Food Stamp program are varied and include the stigma of government benefits, eligibility rules and lack of information about the benefits. Click here for the full report.

The statistics produced for this analysis include: the percentage of low-income people receiving Food Stamp benefits, the average monthly benefit per recipient, and the percentage of children in the National School Lunch Program, all of which are available for every county in the country from 1998-2004 on the NPP Database. The analysis is based on data and statistics from the Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, Census 2000, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

"We've got over 35 million people in this country struggling to get enough food to eat and 50 percent of all low-income people are not receiving the benefit that is intended to alleviate this food insecurity," said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "While the Food Stamp program provides a vital service, clearly too many people are still going without. "

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 60 percent of eligible people participated in the Food Stamp program in 2004. However, the eligibility criteria of the program cuts off many low-income people from receiving benefits, so the USDA figure does not address what proportion of low-income people are actually being reached. Since the Food Stamp Program sets an income-eligibility limit of 130 percent of the poverty level, this study uses that thr eshold, as opposed to the poverty level, to define "low-income." For a family of three, the income limit for low-income was $19,767.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to http://nationalpriorities.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-219-5658 (cell)
413-584-9556 (office)

National Priorities Project Research Director Dr. Anita Dancs
Unveils Real Iraq War Costs at Take Back America Conference

Northampton, MA -- Congress has thus far spent or allocated $456 billion on the Iraq War, according to the National Priorities Project (NPP), a non-profit research group that analyzes federal spending data. NPP Research Director Dr. Anita Dancs will bring this information, along with an analysis of the military budget,
to the Take Back America Conference in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 20^th at 11:00 am at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Dr. Dancs will outline a fresh and controversial look at “Sensible Priorities: Challenging the Military Budget.” She will be joined by fellow panelists, Lawrence Korb, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Reagan, and Duane Peterson, executive director of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities.

In its new publication, “Congress Votes for More War Funding,” NPP shows that if that $456 billion were spent locally, the following could have been provided:

• 5.7 million people could have received health care coverage each year since the war began; and

• 1 million affordable housing units could have been built; and

• 430,000 school teachers could have been hired since the war began; and

• 4.7 million students could have received tuition and fees for four years at a state university.
  

Similar analyses are available for each congressional district, state and hundreds of cities at www.nationalpriorities.org. The number of soldiers killed and wounded since the Iraq War began are also available state-by-state.

NPP Executive Director, Greg Speeter, said: “This latest NPP analysis continues to bring home to taxpayers the impact of the extraordinary cost of the Iraq War. These spending choices will affect Americans for generations to come.”

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to www.nationalpriorities.org.

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Contact: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-584-9556 (office) 413-219-5658 (cell)

Military Spending Gets Forty Per Cent of Every Income Tax Dollar

Northampton, MA -- As taxpayers prepare to meet this year's April 16th tax deadline, they may want to consider that almost 40 cents of every tax dollar is spent on past and present military spending, according to a newly released publication by the National Priorities Project (NPP), a non-profit research organization that examines the local impact of federal spending policies.

In Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?, NPP offers breakdowns of how the federal government spends the median household's tax payment in each state and over 200 cities.

In 2006, according to the National Priorities Project, current military spending accounted for 27 cents of every income tax dollar paid. Additionally, NPP determined that nine cents of every federal income tax dollar paid today could be attributed to borrowing to pay for past wars and military build-ups. Finally, disability payments, health care and other benefits accrued to veterans made up a little over three cents of the federal income tax dollar, bringing total military spending up to close to 40 cents of every tax dollar.

"To look at how the federal government spends our taxes allows us to stare at our federal spending priorities," said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "Right now, military spending crushes everything else, and we're not even close to the final price tag on the Iraq War that has already cost us half a trillion dollars."

National Priorities Project is also the leading source for the cost of the Iraq War, offering breakdowns of the cost by state and congressional district.

NPP's latest tax day publication shows that spending on preventive security measures, such as diplomacy, economic development assistance and locking down nuclear materials, amounted to three-quarters of a penny. Investing in renewable energy and conservation received hundredths of a penny of the federal income tax dollar. Domestic needs such as affordable housing and nutrition claimed two and three cents, respectively. Meanwhile, beyond military spending, the next two largest areas of spending occurred in health at 21 cents of every tax dollar and interest on the debt at 19 cents.

National Priorities Project (NPP) is a 501(c)(3) research organization that analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Located in Northampton, MA, since 1983, NPP focuses on the impact of federal spending and other policies at the national, state, congressional district and local levels. For more information, go to www.nationalpriorities.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-584-9556 (o); 413-219-5658 (cell)

NEW STATE-LEVEL PUBLICATION BREAKS DOWN WAR SPENDING BILL
BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND STATE

As Congress prepares to vote on a $100 billion supplemental bill for more war spending, the National Priorities Project (NPP) released today a new state-level publication that breaks down what that amount and the new total would cost each state and congressional district. Also available are the number of soldiers killed and wounded from each state and examples of what the money spent on the Iraq War could buy each congressional district in local services.

If Congress approves the additional $100 billion in war spending, the total amount allocated to the Iraq War will reach almost half a trillion dollars, according to Anita Dancs, research director of the National Priorities Project. This figure does not include the additional $142 billion in war spending already requested by the Bush Administration for Fiscal Year 2008.

"A price tag this high deserves every American's serious attention," said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "With the upcoming vote, this publication can help voters inform themselves and their representatives about the high costs of this war."

A Vote to Pay for More War?, NPP's latest publication, will be distributed via national networks of organizations, legislators and the internet. NPP's web pages on the cost of the Iraq War receive at least 100,000 web hits each month.

The National Priorities Project is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that examines the local impact of federal policies.

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Contact: Pamela Schwartz, Communications Director
413-584-9556 (o); 413-219-5658 (c)

"This is an incredibly important opportunity to stare at the Bush Administration's priorities: more war spending, more tax cuts for the wealthy and more budget cuts to programs that meet our citizens' basic needs," said Greg Speeter, executive director of the National Priorities Project. "And it's an opportunity for citizens to respond to their congresspeople, telling them if and what they would choose differently."

The National Priorities Project is a non-profit, non-partisan research group that studies the local impact of federal policies.

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Contact: Anita Dancs, Research Director
                  413-320-1204 (c) (through Jan. 1)

              413-584-9556 (w)
             

Army Fails to Meet its Own Recruitment Benchmarks;

Wealthy Recruits Continue to be Under-Represented

Northampton, MA --  The Army filled its ranks in 2006 by ignoring its own benchmarks for recruits' education standards,  according to an analysis of 2006 military recruitment data released today by the National Priorities Project (NPP), a non-profit research organization that studies the local impact of federal policies.

     According to the Army's benchmark, 90 percent of new recruits should have a high school diploma.  In 2006, 73 percent of all new recruits met this requirement, a drop of 13 percentage points since 2004.

     "While President Bush talks about expanding the troops to fight the war in Iraq, the Army is already going after kids who haven't had the privilege of finishing high school," said Anita Dancs, research director of the National Priorities Project.  "It appears that the Army's ticket to recruitment success is finding young men and women with limited opportunities."

     At the same time, 2006 Army recruits from wealthy neighborhoods -- those with median household incomes of $60,000 and above -- continued to be under-represented at about the same level as 2005 and more so than in 2004, according to the NPP analysis.  The low- and middle-income neighborhoods were more over-represented than in 2004.

     State and county military recruitment data and analysis are available at www.nationalpriorities.org/militaryrecruits06.

     While the Army met its goals for new recruits in 2006, it did so with a significant drop in what the Department of Defense (DoD) deems to be 'high quality' recruits.  This qualification requires a high school diploma and a score of at least the 50th percentile on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.  In 2006, according to the DoD's criteria, more than half of the Army´s recruits for active-service duty were 'non-high quality,' well below their 60 percent benchmark. The 47 percent of recruits who were 'high quality' in 2006 is 14 percentage points lower than the 61 percent in 2004.

     "The answer to these inequities or shortfalls in military recruiting is not a draft," Dancs continued.  "Instead, we should be talking about how we can ensure these young people get a quality education and avoid this devil's choice by not engaging in wars of choice.".

     The NPP analysis indicates that the states with the largest proportion of high-quality recruits were:  North Dakota (59 percent), Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.  All of those except for Nebraska and Wisconsin had recruiting rates (recruits per 1000 youth population) below the national average.  None of these states had a proportion of high-quality recruits equal to the national average of 2004.

     The states with the lowest proportion of high-quality recruits were:   Mississippi (35 percent), Alabama (37 percent), Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Hawaii, and Tennessee.  Of those, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Rhode Island were below the national recruiting rate.

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Contact: Anita Dancs, Research Director
                anita@nationalpriorities.org
                413-584-9556 (work)
                413-325-1204 (cell)

The budget process this year began with a whimper and ended with even less than that, as Congress failed to pass almost every single budget bill and deferred this year's business to next year's Congress.  The 2006 Federal Budget Year in Review offers a two-page analysis and graphics on how the year unfolded.

The budget request for fiscal year 2007, submitted at the beginning of February, 2006, proposed deep cuts to goods and services while proposing to make the tax breaks permanent, extending indefinitely their disproportionate benefit to the wealthiest Americans.  On the heels of this proposal, Congress passed the administration's request for more war spending, bringing spending on just the Iraq War in FY2006 to $100 billion.   By the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, no more than two appropriations bills out of 13 were passed: homeland security and defense.  In mid-December, the 109th Congress closed and left the budget for fiscal year 2007 to be determined by the next Congress.  The Federal Budget Year in Review provides a more detailed review of this past year.

Recent releases: 

NPP has updated its National Security web pages to include the most recent numbers available regarding where our dollars go around the world,  spending comparisons between the U.S. and other countries, and how much homeland security spending goes to your state.

Anita Dancs, NPP's research director, published a report Terrorism or All-Hazards? Broadening Homeland Security as part of the Security Policy Working Group, a consortium of national organizations working on improving US national security policy.

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Contact:  Anita Dancs, Research Director
                 413-584-9556  (office)
                 413-325-1204 (cell)
                 anita@nationalpriorities.org

NEW WAR COST BROKEN DOWN BY STATE, CITY, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

         NORTHAMPTON, MA  --  With the Senate´s passage today of $70 billion in new war spending, the total amount spent or allocated for the Iraq War has now reached $378 billion, according to the National Priorities Project (NPP).  In its new publication,  Cost of Iraq War Rises Higher, NPP provides taxpayer breakdowns of this total for all states, congressional districts and hundreds of cities across the country.

Each publication  also provides the number of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded from each state and a summary presentation of how the Iraq War has undermined U.S. national security.  Read more here.

"With this latest appropriation, the total war cost is up to $378 billion," noted Anita Dancs, research director for the National Priorities Project.  "All of those tax dollars have only bought us less security at home and more soldiers and civilians dead and wounded in Iraq."

Dr. Dancs also provided testimony at a congressional forum on September 26th on the opportunity costs of the Iraq War.  Updating that testimony with the new war cost total, Dancs pointed out that $378 billion could pay for all of the following:

• Health care coverage for all uninsured children for the length of time the war has lasted; and
• 4-year scholarships to a public university for all of this year's graduating seniors; and
• Construction of half a million affordable housing units; and
• The Coast Guard's estimate of what is needed for port security; and
• A tripling of the energy conservation budget in the U.S. Dept. of Energy; and
• Reduce this year's budget deficit by half.  

Click here to read her complete testimony. 

The National Priorities Project is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides citizens with tools and resources to help shape federal budget priorities.

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Contact:  Anita Dancs
                 413.584.9556 (o)
                 413.325.1204 (cell)
                 anita@nationalpriorities.org

NORTHAMPTON, MA - Data released today on military recruits in fiscal year 2005 shows that low- and middle-income neighborhoods are over-represented in the Army, while wealthier neighborhoods have become even more under-represented, compared to fiscal year 2004.

A new ZIP code-level analysis of Army recruits released by the National Priorities Project today shows that neighborhoods with median household incomes between $30,000 - $55,000 became more over-represented in 2005 for active-duty Army recruits.  Median household incomes above $55,000, already under-represented in 2004, became more under-represented in 2005.

The National Priorities Project, a non-partisan, non-profit organization, released military recruiting data for all four branches of the armed forces for fiscal year 2005, its third such release on military recruiting.  Data by ZIP code, county, and state is available for the armed forces at http://database.nationalpriorities.org, and the companion analysis is available at http://nationalpriorities.org/militaryrecruiting05pr. 

The analysis also reveals such details as:

• While most recruits come from urban areas because most of the population is located in urban areas, Army recruits per thousand youth were higher in rural counties.   
• Arkansas, Texas and Wisconsin had the largest increases in active-duty Army recruits per thousand youth.
• Harmon County, Oklahoma had the most Army recruits per thousand youth.
• A higher percentage of Black recruits had high school diplomas compared to White recruits in the Army.
• The Navy had the highest percentage of minority active-duty military recruits.
• In 2005, the military recruiting and advertising budget increased.  The total military recruiting budget (including the pay of recruiters and other expenses) amounted to about $4 billion.
  

"The under-representation of Army recruits from wealthy neighborhoods speaks volumes about the Americans who are paying the price of the Iraq War," said executive director Greg Speeter. "As long as this war continues unabated, we should acknowledge who is being asked to make sacrifices."

To find more information on military recruits of 2005, go to http://nationalpriorities.org/militaryrecruiting05pr or contact Anita Dancs at 413.584.9556.

NORTHAMPTON, MA - The National Priorities Project today released the taxpayer cost of the Iraq War for every congressional district in the country, available at: http://database.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoff. The taxpayer costs can also be broken down in terms of local services that the money could provide such as public safety officers and school teachers.

The National Priorities Project (NPP) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides citizens with tools and resources to help shape federal budget priorities.

The taxpayer cost of the Iraq War is also available by state and for more than 1,000 towns, cities and counties across the country at: http://nationalpriorities.org/warcitycost.

Contact:  Anita Dancs, Research Director
                    413-584-9556 (office)
                    413-325-1204 (cell)
                    anita@nationalpriorities.org

                                MILITARY RECRUITMENT DATA AVAILABLE
                                              BY RACE AND ETHNICITY

The National Priorities Project (NPP) has expanded the NPP Database to include race and ethnicity data for Army recruits in 2004.   The NPP Database also contains 2004 military recruitment data broken down by zip code, county and state, along with related statistics.  A summary of the race and ethnicity data is available at  www.nationalpriorities.org/militaryrecruits04, and includes tables and charts by county, high school, and college, highlighting top locations for recruits.

The summary findings include:

• The three counties with the highest numbers of Hispanic Army recruits were Los Angeles County, California with 718; Bexar County, Texas with 316; and Miami-Dade County, Florida with 288.
• The three counties with the highest numbers of Black Army recruits were Kings County, New York (239); Cook County, Illinois (223); and Los Angeles County, California (199).
• The county with the highest Hispanic recruitment rate (number of Hispanic recruits per 1000 Hispanic youths) was Eaton County, Michigan.  The county with the highest Black recruitment rate (number of Black recruits per 1000 Black youths) was Montgomery County, Mississippi.
• Seventy percent of Black recruits come from neighborhoods whose median household incomes are below the median household income, while 64% of Hispanic recruits and 57% of White recruits come from such neighborhoods.
• Within the top 50 high schools ranked by Black recruits, 81 recruits came from Florida high schools and 82 from Virginia high schools.  Of the top 50 high schools ranked by Black recruits, 47 (or 94%) have a JROTC program affiliated with some branch of the military.
• High schools from Texas (16 schools), California (14 schools) and Florida (13 schools) made up 86% of the top 50 high schools ranked by number of Hispanic recruits. 

More summary data, along with charts and tables, is available at www.nationalpriorities.org/militaryrecruits04. 

The National Priorities Project is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that illustrates the impact of federal policies on local communities.


                                                                                     -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anita Dancs, research director
anita@nationalpriorities.org
413-584-9556(o)
413-253-7760(cell) 

The administration submitted to Congress a $72.4 billion request for additional war-related funding last week. The National Priorities Project (NPP) concluded that total spending on the Iraq War will rise to more than $315 billion. NPP's analysis offers state and local taxpayer costs of the Iraq War available at www.nationalpriorities.org/iraqwarcost.

If the request is approved, NPP estimates that the request will add another $61 billion in funding for the Iraq War, and $10 billion for the war in Afghanistan. Other funding included in the request is $900 million for international assistance and peacekeeping activities in parts of Africa and Pakistan. 

"As the national debate increases about the merits of the Iraq War, the public needs to know the enormous human and financial costs, " said Greg Speeter, executive director of National Priorities Project. 

Number of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded by state is also available in the new NPP publication, Cost of Iraq War Rises at: www.nationalpriorities.org/iraqwarcost. 


The National Priorities Project is a national, non-partisan organization that illustrates the impact of federal policies on local communities. 



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• The highest recruitment rates -- defined as the number of recruits per thousand of 18-24 year-old population -- were found in counties that were relatively poorer than the rest of the nation. All of the top 20 counties had median household incomes below the national level, and 19 of the 20 had median household incomes below their respective state level.
• The three largest schools or programs in the country from which recruits are drawn include the GED Test Center in the New York State Education Department, the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos, Texas and another GED-based program in New York.
• Montana -- a state with low median household income and high poverty rates -- led the country in state recruitment rates. Rhode Island was at the bottom.
• High-income neighborhoods are under-represented. Low- and middle-income neighborhoods are over-represented.


"Parents, students and concerned activists by the thousands have voiced their concerns in recent months about military recruitment tactics," said Sam Diener, Co-Editor of Peacework Magazine at the American Friends Service Committee New England Regional Office. "Now, the NPP Database will be used to help people focus their efforts on the states, counties, zip code and schools most heavily impacted by military recruitment."

The National Priorities Project is a national, non-partisan organization that illustrates the impact of federal policies on local communities.

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• East Carroll Parish has the highest unemployment rate in Louisiana at nearly 20%, up from 13% in 1999.
• Families in Lake County, Michigan received about one-third less in Section 8 money for affordable housing in 2003 than they did in 2003, after adjusting for inflation.  Lake County has the highest child poverty rate in Michigan.
• Median household income ranges in Alabama from $18,455 in Wilcox County to $61,393 in Shelby County.  Statewide, the median is $37,419.
• Blacks in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, have a poverty rate of 23% while whites have a poverty rate of less than 7%.
• Los Angeles County, California, received $10.4 billion in defense contracts in 2003, the most of any county in the state.

    With the NPP Database, you can find an enormous range of data from 1983 to the present, covering categories including income and poverty, housing, hunger, health, energy, military, education, labor and basic demographic information.  You can adjust for inflation with the click of a mouse, create graphs and save searches to view at a later date.

    The National Priorities Project, at http://nationalpriorities.org,  is a non-partisan research group that localizes the impact of federal spending and tax policies and offers easy-to-understand materials on the federal budget.        
       

President's Budget To Hurt States