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Government spending should not grow faster than the people paying for it.

In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I examine the latest Sustainable Budget Project results and compare state spending growth with the responsible benchmark of population growth plus inflation.

Only eight states kept state-funded spending within that limit over the past decade, while just three, Colorado, North Dakota, and Texas, met the standard for both state-funded and total spending. Meanwhile, states such as California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York allowed spending to grow far beyond taxpayers’ means.

We also look at the federal government, where spending increased 81.9% over the decade compared with sustainable growth of only 32.4%.

These numbers matter because spending drives taxes, debt, and future economic opportunity. Responsible budgeting creates room for lasting tax relief, stronger reserves, and greater prosperity.

Listen now and learn how your state compares.

Watch the full episode, subscribe, and visit VanceGinn.com for more economic insights, and get show notes and subscribe to my newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.