On the Cost of Government Day (COGD), economists for the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation calculate when the average taxpayer stops giving away all his gross income to pay for government related expenses and begins to retain the rest of the year's earnings for himself.

Falling on July 3 this year, it is ironic COGD comes one day before Independence Day. Begun in 1993, COGD includes all federal, state and local spending:

• In 1997, the cost of government increased to $3.52 trillion -- $13,500 for every person in the United States.

• Federal and state spending combined ($2.759 trillion) take 36.2 percent of the Net National Product.

• Federal regulations extract $785 billion from taxpayers.

• Workers compensation and tort costs take another $196 billion.

Many people think April 15 marks the end of the "tax-bite" season in the year. But because many costs of complying with government regulations are hidden from view, tax dollar drainage actually continues much longer.

Michael Kamburowski (Americans for Tax Reform), "Happy Cost of Government Day," Washington Times, July 3, 1997.