Author Archives: Stephen D. Haner

About Stephen D. Haner

Stephen D. Haner is Senior Fellow for State and Local Tax Policy at the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. He may be reached at [email protected].

Time To Reform Virginia’s Energy Policies

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Stephen D. Haner

Dominion Energy Virginia’s November announcement that its proposed offshore wind project has jumped almost 25% in cost to $10 billion, with years to go before construction even starts, has put Virginia’s energy policy and its response to claims of climate … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Energy, Government Reform, State Government | 1 Comment

Virginia Should Boost Standard Deduction, Index for Inflation

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Stephen D. Haner

One of big financial winners with the May 2021 and then January 2022 Virginia minimum wage increases is the state itself, because the entire raise is subject to a 5 percent state income tax.  With its low standard deduction and … Continue reading →

Posted in State Government, Taxes | 1 Comment

Dominion Trims Clean Energy Conversion Cost By Removing Reliable Power from Its Plan

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

The projected consumer cost of Dominion Energy Virginia’s conversion to wind and solar power rises steeply in the utility’s latest capital spending plan.  Although slightly reduced from earlier estimates, the utility told the State Corporation Commission its residential customers may … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment, Government Reform | 3 Comments

Northam Blinks. Tax Cuts Are Coming.

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Virginia’s leaders are no longer debating whether to cut state taxes. The argument now will be over how to cut state taxes. Outgoing Democratic Governor Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that his final introduced budget will include $2.1 billion in lower … Continue reading →

Posted in State Government, Taxes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Northam Blinks. Tax Cuts Are Coming.

How California Now Controls Virginia Auto Market

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Virginia’s automotive sales market is now officially controlled in Sacramento, with the likelihood that no new internal combustion engines can be sold in the Commonwealth after 2035. The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board, acting not with discretion but on orders … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economy, Government Reform, State Government | Tagged | 2 Comments