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].

Two Big Tax Hikes Still Alive at Assembly, But Governor’s Tax Cut Package Has Failed

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Stephen D. Haner

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s package of proposed tax changes is now stalled in both the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates. A House subcommittee spiked it Feb. 5 and then dashed other bills imposing major tax increases on higher income Virginians. Of … Continue reading →

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General Assembly Fills SCC Vacancies but Doubles Down on Bad Energy Laws

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Stephen D. Haner

The General Assembly has now filled the two open seats at the State Corporation Commission (SCC), ending two years of gridlock. Unfortunately, the same legislators, on both sides of the aisle, are still working overtime to dictate and micromanage the state’s … Continue reading →

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Successful Tax Reform Requires Allies and a Path Through the Mines

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Stephen D. Haner

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration had its first formal discussion with Virginia’s local governments about eliminating their car tax collections two days after he announced it publicly. The General Assembly convenes Wednesday and if there is a … Continue reading →

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Dominion’s Wind Towers Arrive Just Before Federal Approval Does

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Stephen D. Haner

The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued final approval for the construction of Dominion Energy Virginia’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Here is the release. A few more review steps remain and should be completed by late January, according … Continue reading →

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Virginia Tax Collections and Spending Just Keep Climbing

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Stephen D. Haner

Virginia’s state budget grew 90% in the past decade, far faster than in previous decades. After adjusting for inflation and population changes, spending still jumped 4% each year, a high rate of compound real growth. At the same time, the … Continue reading →

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