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 steve@thomasjeffersoninst.org.

GOP Should Support Bills to Strengthen SCC Oversight

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

In a House of Delegates committee meeting Tuesday, Republican delegates fell into an old and damaging pattern, casting vote after vote against bills that would strengthen regulatory oversight of a monopoly utility and better protect its millions of Virginia customers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Reform, Transparency | Leave a comment

Northam Compromise Still Taxes Most PPP Money That Saved Jobs

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

A week ago, Governor Ralph Northam’s Administration was adamant that it would be unfair, in fact a double tax benefit, to allow Virginia employers with forgiven Paycheck Protection Plan loans to also deduct any expenses used to qualify for forgiveness. This week, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Economy, State Government | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Employer Escape From Green Energy Costs Blocked

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Virginia’s major energy-intensive industries will not get a requested path to avoid some of the coming cost shock from the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). The bill that sought them a lifeline was tied to an anvil and sunk in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Energy, Environment, Regulation | Leave a comment

Election Law Transformation Continues Apace

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

As I’ve explained too many times to people who won’t believe it, President Joe Biden won Nov. 3. While there remains no evidence of widespread fraud or error, election law changes achieved by Democrats in key states were a major … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Reform, Politics | Leave a comment

Scrap Electoral College? Open a Legal Pandora’s Box

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

When Texas went to the United States Supreme Court last month complaining about the election processes in four other states, the case was dismissed on the issue of standing.  The Court correctly replied Texas had no right to complain about … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Reform, Politics | Leave a comment