William Smith

Jefferson Forum
February 2, 2010

No issue is more challenging for the Virginia General Assembly this year than the budget. But while opponents of parental choice argue that a tax credit for corporations offering scholarships for children to attend the public or private school of their choice would drain the state treasury, nothing could be...

Mike Thompson
January 22, 2010

Government should use the current economic recesion to re-evaluate its purpose, prioritize its programs, re-structure its employee compensation and permanently restrict the growth of future spending — so they can avoid ending up in a “budget crisis” the next time. Here are some ideas for doing that.

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Jefferson Forum
January 20, 2010
With great fanfare President Obama went to Copenhagen and produced nothing related to agriculture....
Jefferson Forum
January 20, 2010
With the recession now over, according to most economists, the question becomes: “How long will it take to recover all the jobs lost?” Observing the employment patterns of the past few recoveries can provide some insight into job growth in the current recovery....
Jefferson Forum
January 20, 2010
The United States has some of the most comprehensive building codes in the world. Standards are implemented and enforced by both the construction industry and government agencies. The Brooks Act is part of what makes the United States the envy of the world....
Jefferson Forum
January 20, 2010
Without question, coal is an important resource to Virginia and to make changes in production and use will require a well thought out energy plan and a large capital outlay....
Jefferson Forum
January 20, 2010
Though Virginia may currently be a vast wasteland for quality charter innovation that could help kids, the Virginia School Boards Association is right on this: the quality of the charter applications that are received by local boards is often quite poor. Changes proposed by the NACPS, however, could change that....
Mike Thompson
January 20, 2010
Government should use the current economic recession to re-evaluate its purpose, prioritize its programs, re-structure its employee compensation and permanently restrict the growth of future spending. If not, we will be right back year in a few short years....
Christian Braunlich
January 7, 2010

As the General Assembly struggles to reduce costs and burdens on local school divisions this year, they might consider a scholarship for students with disabilities.

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Jefferson Forum
January 6, 2010
EPA could declare a naturally occurring substance as indirect danger to human health - and Agriculture could pay the price...