Before I start, I am not a republican nor do I like this tax “reform”. Just a civil conversation I hope can lead to intellectual, informative stimulating interaction.

From your own source:

Part of the explanation for why southern states dominate the “most dependent” category is historical. During the many decades in the 20th century when the South was solidly Democratic, its congressional representatives in both the House and the Senate, enjoying great seniority, came to hold leadership positions on powerful committees, which they used to send federal dollars back to their home states in the form of contracts, projects, installations.

I’ve actually done numerous papers on this and there are numerous reasons why it looks like southern states are the most needy states. Part of it is because poverty levels are through the roof in rural areas. However other factors such military bases, natural disasters and shipping ports get rolled up into that report. IE: Fort Jackson, one of the largest training bases in the country is located in South Carolina. The money the federal government spends to operate that base is tracked as “federal money given to South Carolina”. Same can be said for hurricane relief efforts.

If a person were to remove federal spending on things that are not state induced cost, SC is actually has about a 1% poverty level difference as California. People on welfare per capita leaves SC at the bottom of the list. #39 out of 54 to be exact. Not even remotely close to being the most needy state in the sense people like to think.