Some of the things CA "receives" from the federal government are zero percent interest rates and preferential access to vast capital markets, a heavy implicit labor cost subsidy via immigration policy, an implicit promise of massive earthquake insurance, access to the Colorado River, copyright & patent protections for its primary industries...
Looking at fiscal inflows and outflows isn't the benchmark of who gains from a relationship and whether it is positive-sum.
Looking at fiscal inflows and outflows isn't the benchmark of who gains from a relationship and whether it is positive-sum.