Florida continues to lag in federal grants

A private budget watchdog group says Florida ranks near the bottom in federal grants and is missing out on billions of dollars.

Florida TaxWatch issued a report Wednesday showing Florida received $22.7 billion in federal funding, or $1,224 per resident, in 2009.

That's more than $500 below the national average. It puts Florida in 48th place in per capita funding.

Coming up to the national average would give Florida another $10.6 billion. That's more than enough to close a looming $3.6 billion budget gap.