The new federal tax law cuts federal taxes for most filers in Virginia, but without action by the Commonwealth’s General Assembly, many Virginians will experience an unlegislated increase in their state tax liability. If lawmakers elect to avoid a state tax increase, the added revenue provides an opportunity to pay...
In the analysis of unfunded state pension liabilities, there are two main components: assets and liabilities. Here in Virginia, most attention is focused on the asset side of the equation — how much money have state and local governments set aside to pay for retiree benefits, and how well is...
In an unbelievable set of circumstances, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was defeated by an Illinois lawyer and farmer not three times as I indicated last week, but four times. The farm was in a trust in Illinois and it believed after defeating NRCS four times, that it might...
I continue to be amazed at how many Americans erroneously believe that (1) the federal government owns the Interstates, and (2) that since they are “already paid for,” using tolls for them would be “double taxation.” Actually, the states own all the Interstates and are fully responsible for maintaining, improving,...
Restaurant owners may know that open-faced sandwiches are regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services. But if a second piece of bread is added on top, it is regulated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). That’s because the USDA...
(Editor’s note: This idea has been mentioned to the Editor a couple of times. This article cautions those “experts” who are thinking about this innovation.) Despite rail transit being a 19th century technology, many politicians view trains the same way that they view campaign contributors—you can never have enough of...
How will the tax cuts from the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impact Virginia households? The results vary considerably by income bracket, according to a tax calculator published by the Tax Foundation. Higher income households, making over $200,000 per year, will get the biggest income tax breaks as measured...
You can understand their frustration, as the steady stream of radical environmentalist successes during the Obama years has been replaced with endless setbacks. Oil, gas and coal leasing, permits and production have risen significantly. Big Green just lost its first Big Cities v. Big Oil climate change shakedown lawsuit. President...
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is the fastest-growing U.S. transit mode. The Trump Administration has prioritized funding BRT projects over light-rail projects. A region can build three to nine BRT projects for every one light rail line. However, while BRT may be enjoying greater popularity, there is still considerable debate about...
Attorney General Curtis Hill of Indiana and 14 other states helped dismiss a climate change lawsuit brought by the cities of Oakland and San Francisco, Calif. On June 26 a federal judge dismissed a global warming lawsuit which asserted climate change was caused by numerous oil companies and declared the...
