would be interesting to find out: I wonder how much those poorer states pay to the fed. Include all forms of taxes that go to fed. Gas taxes, cig taxes, income taxes, all.  Then calculate the interest it gets from those taxes (often invested). Then see what the states would have if the money was theirs as opposed to what they get from Dept of Ed etc. Not just profit after the fed bureaucracy gets their pay/ cost of operation etc. Would be interesting if those figures could be honestly gotten.