Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the federal government’s spending as Tax Day approaches on April 15. She believes that taxation powers should be taken away from the federal government, expressing concern over the trillions of dollars collected annually to fund essential services like healthcare, Social Security, and the military. Greene has called for a reduction in the size of the federal government by half and for more tax powers to be given to individual states, although she has not detailed how this would be achieved.
Greene recently took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her views on taxation, stating that the U.S. federal government collects an average of $4.7 trillion annually from Americans, which she referred to as a shameful result of hard-earned tax dollars. She also shared an infographic that outlines federal government taxation, spending, and the U.S. national debt. The infographic claims that the national debt totals $34.6 trillion, equating to $102,969 per U.S. citizen and $266,951 per taxpayer. These figures have not been independently verified by Newsweek, and it is unclear where the infographic originated from.
In addition to criticizing government spending, Greene has previously called for Americans to revolt against taxes, particularly in states like California. In December, she condemned California’s decision to offer free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, labeling it as treason and stating that taxpayers would ultimately foot the bill for this initiative. Greene questioned whether a tax revolt could potentially stop such policies and expressed frustration over her inability to garner enough votes for impeachment related to the border crisis, which she considers a top issue.
While Greene’s concerns about government spending and taxation are not new, they have gained renewed attention as Tax Day approaches. The federal government spent $6.3 trillion in the 2023 fiscal year, a decrease from the previous year’s figure of $6.48 trillion according to official Treasury Department data. In the current 2024 fiscal year, the Biden administration has already spent $3.25 trillion, a $103 billion increase compared to the same period in the prior year. These figures highlight the significant financial resources allocated by the government to various programs and services.
As discussions around taxation and government spending continue, Rep. Greene’s stance reflects a broader debate within the political landscape regarding the role and size of the federal government. While Greene advocates for reducing the federal government’s size and allocating more tax powers to states, others may argue for a different approach. The upcoming Tax Day on April 15 serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between taxation, government spending, and policies that impact Americans’ daily lives. The debate over these issues is likely to persist as lawmakers and the public grapple with finding common ground on fiscal matters.
