Top 10 States Receiving Government Earmarks

In fiscal year 2008, there were 11,524 earmarks totaling $16,501,833,000

An earmark is government money that is given to a specific recipient or a specific named project without the recipient having to compete, bid, or qualify for the money, as would normally be required to receive government funding. 

Note:  This Top 10 list is determined by the amount of money per capita each state received.  California and Texas received more money than Alaska but considering the small population in Alaska, it received more money per capita. 

1.  Alaska
    Earmark Money Received: $379,699,715
    Earmark$/Capita: $555.54
2.  Hawaii
    Earmark Money Received: $283,149,151
    Earmark$/Capita: $220.63
3.  North Dakota
    Earmark Money Received: $132,883,420
    Earmark$/Capita: $207.72
4.  West Virginia
    Earmark Money Received: $325,799,541
    Earmark$/Capita: $179.80
5.  Mississippi
    Earmark Money Received: $449,883,378
    Earmark$/Capita: $154.13
6.  Vermont
    Earmark Money Received: $70,631,915
    Earmark$/Capita: $113.69
7.  South Dakota
    Earmark Money Received: $89,241,281
    Earmark$/Capita: $112.08
8.  New Mexico
    Earmark Money Received: $205,220,434
    Earmark$/Capita: $104.18
9.  Montana
    Earmark Money Received: $86,749,151
    Earmark$/Capita: $90.57
10.  District of Columbia
     Earmark Money Received: $46,126,719
     Earmark$/Capita: $78.41

Related Articles

What Are Earmarks?