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...
EPA mercury rules for electricity generating units are based on false science and economics. The Environmental Protection Agency clams its “final proposed” Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules will eliminate toxic pollution from electrical generating units, bring up to $140 billion in annual health benefits, and prevent thousands of premature...
As members of the General Assembly gather in Richmond, much is waiting to be tackled. Here are some items to consider …
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By: Michael W. Thompson (This column first ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch on December 28, 2011) As the members of the General Assembly prepare to gather in January, much is waiting to be tackled. Here are some items to consider. As Virginia slowly comes out of the recession, it...
In 1874, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) wrote: “The military engineers of the Commission have taken upon their shoulders the job of making the Mississippi over again – a job transcended in size by only the original job of creating it.” The Mississippi River is 2,320 miles long. Maintaining it is...
It’s time Virginians learn the difference between taxes and user fees. Gov. Bob McDonnell has forced the issue by proposing to boost spending for Virginia roads by diverting more money from the General Fund. In so doing, the governor would tilt the financing mechanism further from a user-pays system and...
Tapping our abundant energy deposits would help create jobs and restore prosperity By: Paul Driessen As we enter 2012, our job producers face looming taxes and regulations and few companies are expanding, hiring or buying equipment. More than 14 million Americans are unemployed, nearly 9 million have been forced to...
(Editor’s note: Gary Baise is a Virginia resident and noted environmental attorney. He was Chief of Staff for the first EPA Administrator.) The Environmental Protection Agency claims that 29 states have “…specifically identified animal feeding operations as contributing to water quality impairment.” Moreover, EPA says 68 studies have been completed...
