The Issues

Economic Freedom

The Stealth Tax Increase that Remains in the Virginia Budget

While there has been much celebration at the passage of a new $188 billion biennial budget for Virginia, this deal would not have been possible had there not been close...

Derrick A. Max
May 15, 2024

Convenience Stores Will Continue to Flourish Without Skill Games

In today’s Roanoke Times, Thomas Jefferson Institute President Derrick Max rebutted the false claim that convenience stores will have to close if Governor Youngkin doesn’t approve the expansion of skill games...

Derrick A. Max
May 14, 2024

Youngkin Prevents Two Tax Increases, Will Still Sign Record State Budget

After much political theater, the Virginia General Assembly and Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) have now compromised on a $188 billion state budget based simply on the revenue projected from current tax law,...

Stephen D. Haner
May 13, 2024

Silence, Disinterest Will Get Your Netflix and NFL Sunday Ticket Taxed

After a month of unproductive political theater, Virginia’s leaders will finally sit down like adults and negotiate the budget. Better late than never.  The message is “everything is back on the...

Stephen D. Haner
April 19, 2024

Youngkin Budget 2.0 Meets Democrat Demands, Except Demand to Raise Taxes

The fight that is about to occur at the Assembly’s reconvened session on Wednesday is entirely about taxes, not about spending. An analysis of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed compromise budget...

Stephen D. Haner
April 15, 2024

Veto the Budget, Governor!

In the end, it wasn’t about stopping Glenn Youngkin’s tax cuts. It was about finding a way to raise taxes. When Governor Youngkin proposed needed reforms of Virginia’s antiquated tax system...

Christian Braunlich
March 22, 2024

The Sausage Factory Produces a Digital Sales Tax with Little Explanation or Debate 

The Virginia General Assembly has now jumped into the brave new world of taxing the digital economy, but the sales tax provisions it adopted in the budget conference report Saturday are...

Stephen D. Haner
March 11, 2024

Killing the Digital Goose for its Golden Egg

The last time the General Assembly made a similar mistake with the Virginia tax code was 20 years ago. It was 2004, and the complaints that business was not “paying its...

Stephen D. Haner
March 4, 2024

Bait and Switch: Reform Reverts to Mo’ Money

Some years back, I ran into a friend, a Virginia Education Association unit chair, outside the General Assembly building, there to lobby on behalf of a state-wide teacher salary increase....

Christian Braunlich
March 2, 2024

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.