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].

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 | Comments Off on Scrap Electoral College? Open a Legal Pandora’s Box

Carbon Taxes, Gasoline Rationing Remain Unpopular Policies

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Stephen D. Haner

The Transportation and Climate Initiative plan to tax and ration motor fuels suffered a major setback just before Christmas, when eight of the eleven states considering it decided not to move forward in 2021. Less than two weeks earlier, advocates … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes, Transportation | 2 Comments

Does a $9 Billion Carbon Tax Get Your Attention?

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

The 2021 General Assembly is now six weeks away, with the holidays in between. We know no more about the coming Northam Administration proposal to impose a carbon tax and rationing scheme on our motor fuels than we did months … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes | Tagged | 5 Comments

Outcome Disputes May Help Kill Electoral College

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

The battle is now rejoined to kill the Electoral College and elect a U.S. President in 2024 based purely on the national vote total. The stubborn refusal of President Donald J. Trump and many other Republicans to accept the November … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

Northam’s Tax Hikes Keeping Virginia Afloat

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

One quarter into the new fiscal year, despite the ongoing COVID-19 recession, Virginia state government is blowing the roof off its revenue estimates. The reason is tax increases Governor Ralph Northam has signed. Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne recently reviewed … Continue reading →

Posted in State Government, Taxes | Comments Off on Northam’s Tax Hikes Keeping Virginia Afloat