The Nation - News from March 31, 1986

Uncle Sam spent about $3,250 for every man, woman and child in America last year. Alaskans topped the list overall at $4,858 per resident, Hawaiians received the highest federal pay and Florida led in individual aid. Overall, the federal government spent $788.5 billion in fiscal 1985, the Census Bureau reported, including $349 billion as direct aid to individuals, such as Social Security, Medicare and food stamps, up 7%; $194 billion in purchasing for various agencies, including the Pentagon, up 10%; $115.5 billion in salaries and wages for federal employees, up 6%, and $105.5 billion in grants to state and local governments, up 8.5%.