RED STATE WOES

The good news is that Arizona isn't leading the US in poverty rates; the bad news is that we're second to Mississippi. Arizona is a SOLID Republican state so this should pose a problem for the radio gasbags like Sean Hannity who keep pointing fingers at Blue states which have financial problems. BTW, California and New York aren't even in the top 10.

Arizona is now No. 2 in poverty
21.2 percent rate trails only Mississippi's, Census Bureau reports
Arizona Daily Star
PHOENIX - More than one-fifth of Arizonans live in poverty, a figure higher than anywhere else in the nation except Mississippi.

Figures Thursday from the U.S. Census Bureau show nearly 1.4 million Arizonans in households earning less than the federal poverty level - about 21.2 percent.

The national figure is approaching 43.6 million, just 14.3 percent.


Top 10

States with highest percentage of residents living in poverty:

Mississippi 23.1 percent

Arizona 21.2 percent

New Mexico 19.3 percent

Arkansas 18.9 percent

Georgia 18.4 percent

District of Columbia 17.9 percent

Texas 17.3 percent

Kentucky 17 percent

North Carolina 16.9 percent

Alabama 16.6 percent