The Issues

Economic Freedom

Turning Sea Level Rise Into a Competitive Economic Advantage

To hear Henry R. “Speaker” Pollard describe all the economic risks associated with rising sea levels in Hampton Roads — soaring insurance rates, higher financing costs, declining property values, disruption...

Jefferson Forum
March 30, 2016

Managed Lane Projects – Growth and Growing Pains

Around the country, express toll lanes (aka managed lanes) continue to expand, bringing welcome congestion relief to clogged expressways. An informal tally of projects currently in operation, compiled by Chuck...

Jefferson Forum
March 30, 2016

Myths and Causes of Income Inequality

New York Times economics analyst Eduardo Porter recently penned two columns about income inequality in which he claimed that the “job market is not working to distribute wealth” and “has lost much of...

Jefferson Forum
March 30, 2016

Assembly Punts on Airbnb

Virginia could have been one of the first states in the nation to legalize the short-term rental industry, but after taking a good hard look at HB 812, the so-called...

Jefferson Forum
March 16, 2016

What's Happening to Transit Bus Ridership?

Daniel Kay Hertz of the University of Chicago had a thought-provoking piece about declining transit bus ridership on NewGeorgraphy.com January 5th (picked up from CityObservatory). Hertz noted that since the...

Bob Poole
March 16, 2016

Getting a Handle on Budget Truths and Priorities

In what seems to be an admission that the Obama Administration often opts for symbols over substance, a recent editorial in The New York Times asserts that the White House’s...

Jefferson Forum
March 2, 2016

Are Congestion-Relief Mega-Projects "Boondoggles"?

From 1982 to 2014 the annual direct cost of traffic congestion in America’s metro areas increased from $42 billion to $160 billion (both measured in 2014 dollars). A major reason...

Jefferson Forum
March 2, 2016

Jefferson Journal: Renting Private Rooms Makes Sense

The General Assembly is debating how best to allow private homeowners to rent their extra bedrooms on a short term basis. That decision may be made this year or next,...

Mike Thompson
February 23, 2016

Reforming Health Care and Reducing Costs

As I write this, the status of major the health care reform passing the General Assembly is in doubt. It seems that the heavy-handed lobbying of the hospitals might keep...

Mike Thompson
February 17, 2016

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.