(Editor’s Note: Many Virginia businesses are involved in international trade. This article deals with an issue directly impacting Virginia’s economy.) Today, exports are more important than ever to American businesses, manufacturers, and the overall strength of our nation’s economy. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United...
This July Virginians will start spending billions to meet tough new storm-water regulations. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Richmond) wants to demonstrate best practices that save the bay – and look really good doing it. About a decade ago the leadership of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, an institution known mainly for...
EPA is defending their new proposal to define the ‘Waters of the United States’ in the Clean Water Act. At a competing website EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, in a guest editorial, defended her agency’s plan, writing: “Some in the agricultural community might think that this rule will broaden the reach of...
The Metro Richmond’s economy was hit harder during the Great Recession than the state and nation, in part, because of its dependence on finance and insurance industries. Employment growth in Richmond is now outpacing all of the metropolitan areas in the state and is growing slightly faster than the nation...
(Editor’s note: As Virginia contemplates more toll roads, and the interstate highway system needs substantial rebuilding, this article illustrates how today’s technology can help pay for our roads more efficiently than today.) Efforts are under way both nationally and regionally to bring about interoperability among all-electronic tolling systems. This involves...
(Publisher’s note: As we in Virginia continue to debate whether to expand Medicaid coverage and rely on the federal government to pay 90% of the cost forever, it is important for us to understand that the entire health care program is still very unstable financially.) Here’s the news you heard:...
With federal transportation spending outpacing tax receipts by some $1.25 billion/month, the cash balance of the Federal Highway Trust is drawing perilously close to the point where the U.S Department of Transportation will be obliged to institute cash management strategies—such as slowing down or delaying state reimbursements — to keep...
(Publishers Comment: Let us in Virginia take full advantage of public private partnerships wherever practical to increase the transportation funding available to us for resolving our congestion relief needs and economic growth requirements.) The Administration’s proposed surface transportation bill, released the last week of April, generally followed the outlines that...
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has been forceful in claiming EPA’s definition of “waters of the United States” is merely a clarification and not an expansion of EPA’s authority.You can decide whether EPA is expanding its jurisdiction. EPA further claims it is reducing confusion and reducing transaction costs for the regulated...
In a memorable scene from the classic sitcom Sanford and Son, a legal predicament led Fred Sanford to consider hiring a man who was peddling cut-rate attorney services. When Sanford and the man met, the conversation that ensued went something like this: Sanford: So, you’re a lawyer?Man: That depends on who...
