Residents Put in Their Two Cents' Worth

The Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) today announced the results of its “Penny Poll” of how taxpayers mailing their federal tax returns on April 18, the filing deadline, would like to see their tax dollars spent.

The Penny Poll was conducted from 12 noon until 1:00 PM on April 18 in front of the Palmer Square Post Office in downtown Princeton. As people approached the Post Office, they were invited to express their opinion on how they would like their federal tax dollar to be spent.

Each of the 65 participants were given ten pennies and asked to distribute them between 5 tubes representing categories of federal spending: education, environment, health care, housing, and military. The results are below.

Participants were then handed a fact sheet showing that 51% of the “Discretionary Budget” for FY2010 was for military spending. Discretionary spending is what Congress can allocate for what it chooses each year, as distinct from entitlements. Discretionary Budget Funding for Education was just 8%, Health Care 5%, Environment 2%, and Housing 3%.

“This year’s results remain consistent with results from over many years. Taxpayers want more of their hard-earned tax dollars going to education, environment, and health care, and far less to military purposes. Total military spending for FY 2010 was $689 billion (about $6,000 per taxpayer), the highest level since World War II. We encourage taxpayers to contact their elected representatives to urge them to support more peaceful federal budget priorities,” said the Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director of CFPA.

Noted author Chris Hedges participates in the Penny Poll - Photo by Anna Savoia