Old School

Donald Trump may trail by 3 million votes, but won the electoral vote. This is possible because the US Constitution guarantees admission into the Electoral College to anyone who scores 50 or better on their SATs.

A low bar by any measure. So naturally your LakeCountyEye contacted Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Dean of the Electoral College School at the College of Lake County.

"Ya." chuckled Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The Electoral College looks like its been packed with dropouts from Trump University."

It does seem to be an historical anachronism.

"And it's not likely to go away any time soon." grimaced Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The Republican Party knows it can't get a white man in the White House without a shot in the arm from the Electoral College."

Is the Republic permanently saddled with its Electoral College?

"No, but it will take a Constitutional Amendment." opined Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "And that will require bi-partisan support. Are you familiar with donor states?"

Your LakeCountyEye was not.

"Every state gives tax dollars to the Federal Government and receives money back in the form of federal spending." explained Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Those that give more than they take are donor states. Illinois for instance."

What about states that take back more than they give?

"These are deadbeat states." deadpanned Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Now the best way to fix the Electoral College is to monetize it. A state will be given Electoral Votes based on a percentage of the number of net dollars that state donates to the Federal Government." Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi produced a chart:

Federal Taxes Paid vs Federal Spending Received ($millions)
State	Taxes Paid	Spending Received	Difference	Electoral Votes
California	289,627	242,023	47,604	48
New Jersey	86,112	58,617	27,495	27
New York	168,710	144,876	23,834	24
Illinois	99,776	80,778	18,998	19
Connecticut	40,314	30,774	9,540	10
Minnesota	40,578	31,067	9,511	10
Massachusetts	63,003	55,830	7,173	7
Nevada	20,135	14,089	6,046	6
Colorado	35,880	31,173	4,707	5
Washington	49,682	46,338	3,344	3
Wisconsin	36,961	33,749	3,212	3
New Hampshire	10,649	8,331	2,318	2
Michigan	66,326	64,787	1,539	2
Delaware	6,622	5,495	1,127	1
Oregon	23,583	22,792	791	1
Florida	135,146	134,544	602	1
Rhode Island	7,969	8,423	-454	0
Vermont	4,085	4,645	-560	-1
Wyoming	4,209	4,782	-573	-1
Nebraska	11,261	12,785	-1,524	-2
Utah	13,134	14,823	-1,689	-2
Texas	146,932	148,683	-1,751	-2
Idaho	7,728	9,598	-1,870	-2
Iowa	17,830	20,345	-2,515	-3
Montana	5,228	7,814	-2,586	-3
South Dakota	4,840	7,481	-2,641	-3
North Dakota	3,829	6,608	-2,779	-3
Kansas	17,434	20,492	-3,058	-3
Maine	7,728	11,365	-3,637	-4
Georgia	55,952	59,846	-3,894	-4
Hawaii	8,519	12,699	-4,180	-4
Indiana	38,081	42,347	-4,266	-4
Alaska	4,830	9,230	-4,400	-4
Arkansas	13,926	20,387	-6,461	-6
North Carolina	52,547	59,162	-6,615	-7
West Virginia	8,815	16,087	-7,272	-7
Ohio	70,304	77,881	-7,577	-8
Oklahoma	19,572	27,637	-8,065	-8
Arizona	35,988	44,639	-8,651	-9
South Carolina	22,711	32,044	-9,333	-9
New Mexico	9,891	20,604	-10,713	-11
Pennsylvania	87,940	99,503	-11,563	-12
Tennessee	35,872	48,288	-12,416	-12
Kentucky	22,003	34,653	-12,650	-13
Missouri	35,171	48,273	-13,102	-13
Mississippi	12,434	26,181	-13,747	-14
Alabama	24,675	42,061	-17,386	-17
Maryland	49,178	66,720	-17,542	-18
Louisiana	20,563	39,628	-19,065	-19
District of Columbia	6,735	37,859	-31,124	-31
Virginia	60,185	95,097	-34,912	-35

Source: Federal Taxes Paid vs. Federal Spending Received by State, 1981-2005

Monetize the Electoral College?

"The Government nets roughly $19 billion dollars from the State of Illinois." explained Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "So Illinois would get 19 electoral votes. California gets 48 votes. New York gets 24. Do you see where I am going?"

What about states that take more than they give?

"Deadbeat states will be allotted negative electoral votes." replied Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The Federal Government loses nearly $2 billion to the State of Texas. So Texas would get a minus 2 electoral votes."

Negative Electoral Votes?

"Absolutely." insisted Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "If Texas votes for a Donald Trump then Donald Trump loses 2 electoral votes. The math is simple."

Your LakeCountyEye was skeptical.

"The plan is designed for bi-partisan appeal." maintained Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The GOP does not want to eliminate the Electoral College.  But they do want to privatize the Federal Government -- and this plan privatizes the Electoral College. And at the same time Democrats will notice that the biggest donor states are all blue states. You can do the math."

Your LakeCountyEye heard enough. Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your Operatives not to forget to pay their taxes!"