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].

The State Tax Gravy Train Accelerates

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Any claim that Virginia cannot reduce taxes on its citizens without damaging state programs has been further eroded by two recent announcements. The explosion of revenue from recent state tax increases is continuing, pointing to a potential repeat of last year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in State Government, Taxes | Tagged , | Comments Off on The State Tax Gravy Train Accelerates

Virginia’s Anemic Growth Has Policy Roots In Richmond and Washington

Posted on October 4, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Here’s the evidence why Ralph Northam is wrong when he says Virginia’s economy is great. It’s not. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Government Reform, State Government | Comments Off on Virginia’s Anemic Growth Has Policy Roots In Richmond and Washington

Yes Terry, Tax Hikes Grew the State Surplus

Posted on September 30, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

At the September 28 debate Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe dismissed the 2021 $2.6 billion general fund revenue surplus as entirely due to extra federal COVID relief funds, which is absurd on its face. By definition, every dollar is General … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Government Reform, State Government, Taxes | 2 Comments

Richmond City May Cancel Gas Service For Its Citizens, Henrico and Chesterfield

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the (Richmond) Council hereby commits to working with the City’s Administration on an equitable plan to phase out reliance on gas and shift to accelerated investment in City-owned renewable energy and hereby recognizes that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | 6 Comments

A Promise to Reverse Northam’s Tax Hikes

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Republican nominee for governor Glenn Youngkin is proposing to reduce Virginia taxes in much the same way Governor Ralph Northam has raised them:  Several individual proposals, some not all that large, which accumulate into a significant change. As Northam ends … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Reform, State Government, Taxes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Promise to Reverse Northam’s Tax Hikes