Author Archives: matt ohern

Richmond’s Proposed Cigarette Tax is Bad Policy

Last year, the Richmond City Council considered an 80 cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax. After several public hearings and careful consideration of the shortcomings of this proposal, the City Council voted it down. But like Jason in … Continue reading

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Is North American trade deal good for U.S. agriculture?

Farm Foundation, which studies agricultural issues in a neutral manner and does not lobby, issued a report last October which is disturbing for agriculture.   This report, How U.S. Agriculture Will Fare Under the USMCA and Retaliatory Tariffs, included experts from Purdue … Continue reading

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How Toll-Financed Interstate Reconstruction Could Address Two Major Problems

The two largest problems facing America’s highway system are (1) the need to reconstruct and modernize the aging Interstate highway system and (2) the need to start replacing per-gallon fuel taxes with per-mile charges.  In the January issue of Surface Transportation Newsletter, I … Continue reading

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Will The “Taxpayer Relief Fund” Become a Sham?

The Taxpayer Relief Fund to be created with the residual dollars from the 2019 state tax legislation on conformity has not seen the first dollar deposited and Governor Ralph Northam is already proposing to spend some of it, seeking to … Continue reading

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For Once, Compromise and Consensus Rule

Conservatives have always been skeptical about building massive government-run preschool programs. They frequently cite the cost, or the fact that some studies show the effects of pre-k programs fade or disappear over time. Liberals, meanwhile, are customarily critical of anything … Continue reading

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