42 Percent

That is the percentage of your federal income taxes that went to pay for past wars and the military in fiscal year 2005 (FY05), the year for which we are now filing our income tax returns.

FCNL estimates the U.S. spent $783 billion in FY05 for past and present military activities. This includes funding for the Defense Department, Energy Department nuclear weapons programs, military-related activities of other agencies, foreign military financing and training, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mandatory spending for military retirement and health care, veterans programs ($69 billion), and the estimated portion of interest paid on the national debt which can be attributed to past wars and military spending ($170 billion).

The time period leading up to April 15, when federal tax forms and payments are due, is an excellent time to raise questions about federal government spending priorities with other people in your community and your members of Congress. Please start by forwarding this email to five of your friends who pay taxes. For more information on the federal budget, visit our web site, http://www.fcnl.org/redir/0606budget/