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].

Youngkin to Withdraw from RGGI, End Carbon Tax

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin told a business group audience Wednesday afternoon that he intends to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. His decision came two days after Dominion Energy Virginia filed a petition to increase the RGGI tax on its … Continue reading →

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Heat Rule Gets Cold Shoulder

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Virginia’s Safety and Health Codes Board on Friday voted down a proposed workplace heat protection standard, strongly opposed by the state’s business community but ardently sought by organized labor and farmworker advocates. The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) was seeking to … Continue reading →

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As Cost Kills TCI in Connecticut, Virginia Dems Dig In To Defend Virginia Green New Deal Laws

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

The Governor of Connecticut has abandoned his efforts to enroll that state in the Transportation and Climate Initiative, an interstate compact which would impose a cap, tax and ration scheme on gasoline and diesel fuel. Virginia remains a part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Local Government, State Government, Taxes, Transportation | 1 Comment

Time To Reform Virginia’s Energy Policies

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Dominion Energy Virginia’s announcement Friday 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 disaster on … Continue reading →

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Confirmed: Virginia Economy Lags National Growth

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

It’s official now:  Even the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)  has documented and highlighted how poorly Virginia’s economy is performing, how far our state is lagging national growth averages. The admission comes in the most recent summary on state spending … Continue reading →

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