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].

Spaced Out, Hidden, Here Come the 2020 Tax Hikes

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

The 2020 General Assembly, with its new progressive Democratic majority, passed nearly two dozen changes in Virginia tax laws that will begin to hit individuals and businesses in a few weeks on July 1. Because of the COVID-19 economic shutdown, … Continue reading →

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Governor Punts on First Down

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

Just as COVID-19 was starting its destruction of the world’s economy in early March, the Virginia General Assembly took final action on an exuberant two-year state budget within shouting distance of $140 billion. Six weeks later at the Reconvened Session, … Continue reading →

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Mutated by COVID, Unemployment Insurance Unsustainable

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

America’s and Virginia’s unemployment insurance program – born of the Great Depression and the Social Security Act of 1935 – may be another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has mutated unemployment insurance into a form not financially sustainable. … Continue reading →

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The Revolution Has Been Postponed, Not Cancelled

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

The revolution has merely been postponed, not cancelled. Governor Ralph Northam has asked the General Assembly to put off until May 1, 2021 the implementation of several key pro-union changes in Virginia’s labor and employment laws, including a 31 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in State Government | 1 Comment

This is the Green New Deal Economy. Enjoy

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

If all else fails in achieving your green energy dreams, you can always hope for a depression. In Italy, the COVID-19 depression has already dropped electricity demand by about 18-21%, as reported recently by Utility Dive. The regional transmission organizations … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment | 2 Comments