The Thomas Jefferson Institute has issued a series of one-page Legislative Policy Briefs reviewing government reform issues before the Virginia General Assembly. Look here frequently during the session to see new briefs as they are issued.
...
To understand where we need to go, we first need to understand where we are. This shows where Virginia ranks on key indicators, comparing the Commonwealth to other states, both nationally and within our region of eight states (PA, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, TN, and WV).
...
The budget available through the General Assembly website makes no sense to the taxpayer interested in getting an idea of how his money is spent. In fact, the single most important document in Virginia government, the biannual budget, largely fails to serve even state legislators. This does not have to...
The transportation “crisis” in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads is dramatically different from the transportation “headaches” in less crowded areas of the state. Yet, major tax increases were defeated in 2002 in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads – the two areas facing true “gridlock” in the movement of cars. That’s...
One of the most controversial issues facing local communities deals with the continued development of commercial and residential properties. As families move into new developments, former farms and forest lands turn into subdivisions and shopping centers … requiring more schools and more roads. As the debate over “sprawl” continues, the...
One of the most controversial issues facing local communities deals with the continued development of commercial and residential properties. As families move into new developments, former farms and forest lands turn into subdivisions and shopping centers … requiring more schools and more roads. As the debate over “sprawl” continues, the...
Our public schools’ most fundamental responsibility is teaching children to read. Yet, many Virginia children remain “curriculum casualties” of failed experiments in reading instruction, and taxpayers are footing the bill. But decades of research have documented the way in which children learn to read and offer specific reforms in reading...
Virginia is home to some of the top universities in the country, and these quality institutions of higher learning are among the important magnets bringing new businesses and families to our state. This study compares the compensation paid faculty in public universities and colleges in the region (Pennsylvania to Georgia)....
In an effort to control the rising cost of Medicaid, states frequently create a “Preferred Drug List” or Formulary. These formularies usually prevent patients from obtaining newer (and more expensive) drugs. But the evidence suggests that treating prescription drugs as a stand-alone cost doesn’t work, and a recent study demonstrates...
“Out of the Box” education thinkers from around the country gathered in Williamsburg for the annual “Excellence in Education” Conference sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Institute. Among the topics were public-private partnerships in building schools, charter schools, school choice, special education reform, curriculum ideas and many more topics provided local...
