The Issues

Economic Freedom

Virginia’s Flawed Plan for I-81 Modernization

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,...

Jefferson Forum
December 12, 2018

New Jefferson Commentaries Make Case for Tax Reform

In two new Thomas Jefferson Institute commentaries published on opposite sides of the state, Institute scholars make the case for tax reform in Virginia. In a commentary originally published in...

Jefferson Forum
December 4, 2018

Confusion, Silence Will Earn Business Higher Taxes

“I’m not going to get into it unless anybody wants me to.” So said Kristin Collins, policy development director for the Virginia Department of Taxation, as she neared the end...

Jefferson Forum
November 28, 2018

What Kind of Infrastructure Bill Might Pass a Divided Congress?

In the wake of the November 6th election results, there is renewed talk of a national infrastructure bill. The day after the election, likely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA)...

Jefferson Forum
November 28, 2018

Give thanks that we no longer live on the precipice

Thanksgiving is a good time to express our sincere gratitude that we no longer “enjoy” the “simpler life of yesteryear.” As my grandmother said, “The only good thing about the...

Jefferson Forum
November 28, 2018

Tax Conformity Must Be Coupled With Tax Reform

Over the next two years, Virginia taxpayers will pay more than $1.2 billion in added state tax taxes … unless the General Assembly acts to reform our tax code when...

Jefferson Forum
November 19, 2018

Virginia’s Diabetes Problem

Health may be correlated with income and Virginia may have the ninth-highest average household income among the 50 states, but the Old Dominion ranks 23rd in the nation for the...

Jefferson Forum
November 14, 2018

Some Relief on U.S. Congestion

(Editor’s note: As Virginia plans for future road construction, expansion and possible High Occupancy Toll lanes, this article is important to that discussion.) Big-data firm INRIX last month released its...

Jefferson Forum
November 14, 2018

New Commuting Data from Census ACS Data

The American Community Survey data on vehicle ownership and commuting mode choice were released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau. The headline finding was that the fraction of those...

Jefferson Forum
November 1, 2018

Jefferson Forum concentrates on policies that affect everyday life in Virginia

Economic Freedom

Lower taxes and fewer regulations

Education Freedom

More choices for Virginia families

Energy Freedom

Reliable, affordable energy

Worker Freedom

Protecting Virginia’s right-to-work tradition

These are the building blocks of a more competitive and prosperous Virginia.