Category Archives: State Government

A Blueprint for Fixing Virginia

By: Michael W. Thompson (This column first ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch on December 28, 2011) As the members of the General Assembly prepare to gather in January, much is waiting to be tackled.   Here are some items to … Continue reading

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Virginia Unfairly Competes with the Private Sector

By John S. Massad I am typically not a big fan of federal government policies, but when they are more pro-business than the State of Virginia’s policies one has to ask, “Why?” I am referring to the Virginia  Department of … Continue reading

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Divesting Virginia’s Liquid Assets: The Rationale for ABC Privatization, Part 1

Paradigm shifts are tough in government. This helps to explain some of the myths and confusion on the subject of privatizing Virginia’s ABC monopoly, and it helps shed light on why some policymakers—in a fiscally conservative state like Virginia, no … Continue reading

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Common Sense Prison Reforms Will Help McDonnell Close Budget Gap

Public safety is one of the primary responsibilities of government; however, if the legislature doesn’t adopt reforms, corrections costs will devour ever larger portions of the budget. The challenge is finding economies in the justice system while keeping the public safe, something conservative legislators in other states have been able to accomplish. Continue reading

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Virginia Energy Policy: Electricity Production & the Nuclear Option

Virginia needs to plan and implement now to provide adequate and reliable electrical energy well into the twenty first century. For economic growth to continue Virginia needs to expand energy production. Continue reading

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