Category Archives: State Government

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 →

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Uh Oh … Another Bad Year for VRS Investments

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Jim Bacon

The Virginia Retirement System earned 1.4% on its $82 billion investment portfolio in fiscal year 2020, far below the long-term average of 6.75% the VRS Board of Trustees assumes that it will earn over the next 30 years, reports the … Continue reading →

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Could the Loudoun Drowning Tragedy Have Been Avoided?

Posted on September 23, 2020 by John M. Palatiello

A decade ago, I wrote a column in this space regarding a quality assurance process for professional architecture, engineering, surveying, mapping and related services codified in Federal law, and most state laws, including Virginia. The “Brooks Act”, the Federal law … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Reform, State Government | 1 Comment

Economic and Job Recovery? Not the Special Session’s Focus

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

With the Virginia General Assembly’s “Cops and COVID” special session moving into its third week, it seems likely to impede rather than assist the state’s economic recovery from the pandemic. It may also greatly expand COVID-19’s financial burdens in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, State Government | 2 Comments

Northam Finally Abandons Spending Hikes in Face of COVID

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Stephen D. Haner

Perhaps the most important point about Governor Ralph Northam’s latest Virginia state budget proposal is what he did not recommend. He did not recommend dipping into the state’s current cash reserves to restore spending items which had been frozen. No … Continue reading →

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