Show Me Some Relevant Data

The Show Me Institute has a new study concluding that Missouri "ranks Missouri high on a list of states with big government," and Missourinet has dutifly reprinted their main findings in a piece titled "Show me big government." To back up their claim of "big government" the Institute mainly points to the fact that Missouri has a lot of counties and school districts, and a big House of Representatives, which contribute to a high number of "government units."

Wouldn't high tax burdens be a better measure of big government?  That seems to be the underlying concern -- that bloated, inefficient government costs us money.

The Tax Foundation -- hardly a left-wing outfit -- ranks Missouri 47th in state tax collections per capita.  And 46th in state spending per capita. When one adds in local governments, the tax burden on Missourians ranks 32nd.  Some of this data is actually included in the Show Me Institute study -- which actually describes Missouri as a "comparatively low-tax state." 

While there are always opportunities to improve and streamline government services, I don't see how Missouri has anything approaching an oppressive, bloated government. In fact, I think there's a very compelling case to be made that the state of Missouri needs to be doing more to serve its families. 

Also: wouldn't a little context on the Show Me Institute be a little helpful for Missourinet's readers and listeners?  Institute President Rex Singquefield is hardly a dispassionate academic.  He has a clear history of supporting conservative candidates and causes, and we can reasonably assume that he has a clear interest in producing reports that support his ideology. Even the Institute's logo reveals their agenda. But none of this is mentioned in the story -- they're just some "group that assesses Missouri government."