Bush Tax Reform Favors Red States Over Blue States

Media and blogosphere (see here and here) reports have noted that many of the Administration's tax reform proposals being kicked around favor taxpayers in Red States that voted for President Bush at the expense of Blue States that voted for Senator Kerry. For example, the Associated Press reports that the Bush Administration is considering repealing the deduction for state income taxes. It just so happens that of the 15 states that pay the most in per capita state income taxes (and thus benefit most from the deduction), 13 are Blue States; of the 15 states that pay the least in per capita state income taxes, 13 are Red States:

(The data is from the Tax Foundation's 2003's statistics.) Note the eerie similarity with the 2004 presidential election map:

For prior Red State-Blue State tax posts, see:

• Red States Feed at Federal Trough, Blue States Supply the Feed
• Red State, Blue State Update
• 50-State "Business Tax Friendliness" Ranking: Red States Chummy, Blue States Chilly