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].

Senate Taxes PPP Less House Version “Wholly Inadequate”

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

Majorities in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly agree with Governor Ralph Northam and have voted to tax the federal Payroll Protection Plan grants that saved Virginia jobs in the pandemic. They only remain at odds over how much to tax. … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes | Comments Off on Senate Taxes PPP Less House Version “Wholly Inadequate”

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 | 1 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 , | 1 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 | Comments Off on Employer Escape From Green Energy Costs Blocked

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 | Comments Off on Election Law Transformation Continues Apace