The numbers on total state nominal income are here: http://www.bea.gov/regional/remdmap/REMDMap.aspx http://www.bea.gov/regional/remdmap/REMDMap.aspx So it loo

The numbers on total state nominal income are here: http://www.bea.gov/regional/remdmap/REMDMap.aspx http://www.bea.gov/regional/remdmap/REMDMap.aspx So it looks like state spending rose from 11% of total income in 1977 to 14% today. And total income usually grows slightly faster than the economy (economic growth = change total income - change in the price level). Thus state spending has been growing faster than incomes rise, faster than inflation and faster than the economy has been growing.