Category Archives: State Government

For Once, Compromise and Consensus Rule

Posted on April 3, 2019 by matt ohern

Conservatives have always been skeptical about building massive government-run preschool programs. They frequently cite the cost, or the fact that some studies show the effects of pre-k programs fade or disappear over time. Liberals, meanwhile, are customarily critical of anything … Continue reading →

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General Assembly Delivered on Issues That Mattered Most

Posted on March 7, 2019 by matt ohern

The 2019 General Assembly session served as a stark reminder of an important lesson: Leadership matters. The controversies surrounding the executive branch brought chaos and embarrassment, while the steady leadership of the Republican-led General Assembly delivered meaningful results. This session … Continue reading →

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Facts? We Don't Need No More Stinking Facts!

Posted on February 7, 2019 by matt ohern

As Donald Rumsfeld famously said of the Iraq War, there are known unknowns and unknown unknowns — things we know we don’t know, and things we don’t have a clue we don’t know. The same thing could be said of … Continue reading →

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Tax Issues Stay On Front Burner

Posted on January 16, 2019 by matt ohern

Things move rapidly at the Virginia General Assembly, but one week into the 2019 session there is no hint of a decision on how Virginia will respond to federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which happened 13 months … Continue reading →

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Tax Conformity Alone is Not Enough

Posted on October 3, 2018 by matt ohern

When the General Assembly meets in January 2019, it should fully conform Virginia’s tax system to the new federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it should not stop there.  It should also take immediate steps to reduce the tax … Continue reading →

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