The Jefferson Journal

Commentary

Jefferson Forum
January 17, 2019

The Thomas Jefferson Institute has proposed a tax plan that would double the standard deduction, phase in a reduction of the corporate income tax, index Virginia’s individual tax brackets, personal exemptions and standard deduction to inflation, and create a mechanism to track and segregate additional revenue resulting from federal tax...

Christian Braunlich
January 16, 2019

“Our tax code should work for everyone – not just for the highest earners.  That’s only fair.  But Washington is actually making these disparities worse” Governor Ralph Northam• “State of the Commonwealth” Address Actually, it’s the other way around. The federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) put a cap...

Stephen D. Haner
January 16, 2019

Things move rapidly at the Virginia General Assembly, but one week into the 2019 session there is no hint of a decision on how Virginia will respond to federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which happened 13 months ago.  Fifteen bills propose tax policy changes to protect taxpayers...

Jefferson Forum
January 16, 2019

The Virginia General Assembly, the New World’s oldest continuous lawmaking body, began its 400th year amid pageantry and an unintended tax increase on which, thus far, that body has had no say. The House’s ceremonial mace, a symbol of the legislature’s prerogative, was escorted into the chamber by a company...

Jefferson Forum
January 15, 2019

As a result of recent federal tax changes, Virginia taxpayers will pay an additional $1.2 billion in state income taxes this year and next, rising to $4.5 billion in additional taxes by 2024. In late December, the Thomas Jefferson Institute released the results of a poll it commissioned asking voters...

Jefferson Forum
December 26, 2018

As a result of recent federal tax changes, Virginia taxpayers will pay an additional $1.2 billion in state income taxes this year and next, rising to $4.5 billion in additional taxes by 2024. Now, a new poll conducted for the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy by Mason-Dixon Strategies shows...

Mike Thompson
December 13, 2018

Recent federal tax cuts put more money into the pockets of most Virginia families to the tune of some $1200 to $1400. But a good part of that could soon be taken away by our elected officials when the General Assembly meets in January. When the General Assembly votes to...

Jefferson Forum
December 12, 2018

On Friday, after skirting the topic in a major address to a business conference in Williamsburg, Governor Ralph Northam told a reporter that “he’s planning to ask the General Assembly to tackle business tax reform,” adding it would be “comprehensive.” The reporter asked about it because of other comments made...

Jefferson Forum
December 12, 2018

Late to the party to rebuild and modernize its Interstates, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has developed a toll-based plan to improve I-81, a major north-south truck route. Understandably, the state wants to lay out a vision that can be implemented in the near future. But this plan is...

Gary Baise
December 12, 2018

Smithfield and its subsidiary, Murphy-Brown, have won an important First Amendment gag order case in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Smithfield’s subsidiary has lost 3 times in U.S. District Court. On April 26, 2018, a jury ruled Smithfield and its subsidiary were liable for $50 million to ten...