The Jefferson Journal
Commentary
What is the cost of a quality full-time, online education program? It’s an important question if Virginia’s movement towards less costly “virtual schools” is to continue moving forward. With places like Singapore and the European Union having expanded their online learning programs, the issue has international implications for Virginia’s students....
It is imperative that in the current session the General Assembly pass Governor McDonnell’s Virginia Retirement System (VRS) reform package or something similar. Two factors create the urgency in this matter. First, the Governor and General Assembly leaders made clear for several years their intention to make changes to increase...
The McDonnell administration’s thinking behind the $1.6 billion reconstruction of U.S. 460 between Suffolk and Petersburg has come into clearer focus with the publication of an economic study by Chmura Economics & Analytics. The I-85 Connector, as the administration has dubbed the project, will have an annual estimated economic impact...
There’s an old Chicago saying, “Vote Early and vote often.” Most of us laugh it off as a comment of a bygone era when city bosses manipulated the democratic process to ensure their favored candidate won. However, history has proven voter fraud is a real and serious issue in American...
Presidential contender Newt Gingrich was criticized recently for his remarks regarding judicial activism. He claimed parts of our modern court system are engaging in “…a fundamental assault on our liberties…” Further, Gingrich contends the Founding Fathers wanted “…to have a balance of power, not to have a dictatorship by any...
The debate over uranium mining in Virginia is reaching a crescendo as the Virginia General Assembly meets for its 2012 Session and those in favor and those opposed are ready to battle over this important public policy and economic development issue. While this is important , especially to those who...
Remember the old television commercials that proclaimed “Reading is Fundamental?” They were part of a national program that is now known as RIF that gives away books to children around the world. While I am sure RIF is a great organization, I know they get at least one thing right...
Well, well, Gov. Bob McDonnell has finally found his inner radical. His legislative proposals for economic development and energy are pretty tame stuff, but the educational agenda he announced yesterday would push Virginia schools way out of their comfort zone. Indeed, I might be so bold as to suggest that...
57 years ago – January 15, 1955 – President Dwight Eisenhower promulgated a federal policy that is a relevant today as it was the day it was issued, if not more so. Bureau of the Budget Bulletin 55-4 stated, “The Federal government will not start or carry on any commercial...
During the last couple of months, several non-economists have mentioned to me that they have this feeling that the Richmond region’s economy is getting ready to take off. I typically tell them that the numbers simply don’t support that sentiment. The region’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent in...