Monthly Archives: January 2015

Economic Forecast Shows Slow Growth at Best for Virginia

Posted on January 7, 2015 by matt ohern

By Stephan Cassaday and Mike Thompson The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, the state premier public policy foundation, recently released its 15th annual Economic Forecast for Virginia and it shows that our economy continues to slowly recover from the … Continue reading →

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The Coming Education Challenge

Posted on January 7, 2015 by matt ohern

Virginia’s K-12 education community is in for challenging times. The annual Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report examining Standards of Quality (SOQ) education funding demonstrated that state spending on K-12 education rose only 0.2 percent over the past … Continue reading →

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First, Let’s Try Equal Employment Rights

Posted on January 7, 2015 by matt ohern

Body cameras and independent prosecutors for police misconduct, are both good ideas, but not the place to start in addressing our current National policing crisis. We will never succeed in avoiding another Ferguson, Staten Island, or Cleveland, until we all … Continue reading →

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Certificate of Need: A Bad Idea with Political Staying Power

Posted on January 7, 2015 by matt ohern

Every so often Virginia undergoes a spasm of skepticism regarding the Certificate of Need (CON) law that subjects proposals for hospital expansions and equipment purchases to regulatory approval. The law gives proof to the oft-heard claim that Virginia is “pro business” — state … Continue reading →

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New spending bill may not rein in EPA after all

Posted on January 7, 2015 by matt ohern

The 113th Congress delivered a big Christmas present – or possibly bags of coal – to agriculture when it passed the $1.01 trillion spending bill last month. One present is buried deep in Rules Committee Print 113-59 Text of House … Continue reading →

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