Back in 2010, I noted that government spending can beget further spending. I cited research by Russell Sobel and George Crowley which shows that when the federal government transfers money to the states (as the stimulus bill did), the states tend to increase their own future taxes after the federal money goes away. They found that for every $1.00 the feds send to the states, states increase their own future taxes between $0.33 and $0.42.
It recently came to my attention, however, that little-noticed aspects of the 2009 Stimulus and the 2010 Affordable Care Act go even further: they fund advocacy on behalf of further state and local government spending.Here is the story:
The stimulus bill set aside $650 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to spend on “evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies.” The idea was to encourage state and local governments to adopt policies that get people to stop smoking, to eat better, and to get exercise.
HHS used the money to create a new grant program called Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW). According to the CPPW website, it features “a strong emphasis on policy and environmental change at both the state and local levels.” (emphasis added).
Grants can go to local governments or to non-profits. You can see a list of approved grantee strategies here. Many of the strategies seem to be regulatory in scope (e.g. media and advertising bans for cigarettes, bans on branded promotional items, etc.). A number are also focused on getting state and local governments to spend more money. For example, they suggest efforts to get money for “hard-hitting counter-advertising” against tobacco. Or for “safe, attractive accessible places for activity” such as “recreation facilities, [and] enhance[d] bicycling and walking infrastructure.” They also call for “Reduced price[s] for park/facility use” (which, of course, means increased taxpayer support).
Interestingly, the Affordable Care Act doubled down on these activities. “Phase Two Funding” for CPPW was buried in the ACA.
It seems more than a little unseemly to have federal taxpayers bankroll an advocacy campaign like this. How would progressives feel if federal tax dollars were spent on a campaign to get state governments to cut taxes and regulations? Or how about a taxpayer-financed campaign to promote awareness of the Economic Freedom of the World index or the Freedom in the 50 States Index? Studies suggest, by the way, that economic freedom is associated with improved health outcomes (see Exhibit 1.16 of the EFW on p. 24). So maybe such a campaign would qualify for a grant under the program?
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The stimulus bill set aside $650 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to spend on “evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies.” The idea was to encourage state and local governments to adopt policies that get people to stop smoking, to eat better, and to get exercise.
HHS used the money to create a new grant program called Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW). According to the CPPW website, it features “a strong emphasis on policy and environmental change at both the state and local levels.” (emphasis added).
Grants can go to local governments or to non-profits. You can see a list of approved grantee strategies here. Many of the strategies seem to be regulatory in scope (e.g. media and advertising bans for cigarettes, bans on branded promotional items, etc.). A number are also focused on getting state and local governments to spend more money. For example, they suggest efforts to get money for “hard-hitting counter-advertising” against tobacco. Or for “safe, attractive accessible places for activity” such as “recreation facilities, [and] enhance[d] bicycling and walking infrastructure.” They also call for “Reduced price[s] for park/facility use” (which, of course, means increased taxpayer support).
Interestingly, the Affordable Care Act doubled down on these activities. “Phase Two Funding” for CPPW was buried in the ACA.
It seems more than a little unseemly to have federal taxpayers bankroll an advocacy campaign like this. How would progressives feel if federal tax dollars were spent on a campaign to get state governments to cut taxes and regulations? Or how about a taxpayer-financed campaign to promote awareness of the Economic Freedom of the World index or the Freedom in the 50 States Index? Studies suggest, by the way, that economic freedom is associated with improved health outcomes (see Exhibit 1.16 of the EFW on p. 24). So maybe such a campaign would qualify for a grant under the program?
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