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He received his undergraduate education
from the University of Virginia and his law degree
in 1968 from T.C. Williams School of Law at the
University of Richmond, where he was
editor-in-chief of the University of Richmond
Law Review.
After serving as a law clerk to the
Honorable Albert V. Bryan, Sr., Judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth
Circuit, Mr. McSweeney served as an associate with
Mays, Valentine, Davenport & Moore in
Richmond.
He
served in a variety of positions at the United
States Department of Justice from 1971 to 1973
where he rose to the position of Acting Assistant
Attorney General in charge of the Office of
Legislative Affairs. From 1974 to 1977, Mr. McSweeney was the
executive director of the Virginia Commission on
State Governmental Management, which proposed and
successfully implemented a sweeping reorganization
of state government. He also served as counsel to the Governor's
Management Study from 1970 to 1972 and as staff
attorney to the Taxation and Finance Committee of
the Virginia Commission on Constitutional Revision
in 1968.
In 1990,
Mr. McSweeney and the late Roy Smith jointly
directed a successful campaign to defeat the
proposed pledge bond amendments to the Virginia
Constitution. He was also actively involved in the
successful 1998 campaign to defeat two proposed
amendments to the Virginia Constitution that would
have made it easier for localities to incur debt
without voter approval.
In 1977, he founded the predecessor of his
present firm, McSweeney & Crump, P.C. Mr. McSweeney is engaged primarily in the
practice of civil litigation.
He
publishes a weekly column on politics in The
Daily Press.
Columns
April
21: A
Response to Norman Leahy. Our
call for an alternative transportation policy is indeed
"conservative" -- organized around free
markets, an aversion to subsidies and devolution of
government power to the local level.
-
2007 -
February
5: Down
the Wrong Road.
The
GOP transportation plan would employ "subject-to-appropriation" bonds similar to
the "pledge" bonds that voters rejected in
1990. Very bad idea.
-
2006 -
August
28: Someone
Has to Pay.
Virginia's
transportation system needs more money, but not all
fund-raising schemes are created equal. Some
perpetuate the status quo while others encourage
innovation.
July
24: Break
the Tax-and-Spend Cycle.
Many
politicians, and the reporters who cover them, regard
bloating state budgets as inevitable. But that's true
only if voters settle for the same-old, same-old.
June
26: A
New Political Laboratory. The
days are gone when Virginia politics were of local
interest only. Campaign themes and strategies
in the Old Dominion are increasingly visible on the
national state.
June
26: It's
Never Enough. Even
the next two-year budget, at $74 billion, isn't big
enough to satisfy some legislators. Spending
discipline isn't likely to be restored as long as
Republicans are divided.
June
12: The
Politics of Seeming to Care
American
politicians pander to the populace, telling them what
they want to hear, not what they need to hear. In this
year's transportation debt, Virginia's lawmakers are no
exception.
June
12: Let's
Have a Televised Debate
We
can't trust the media to fairly characterize the
transportation debate. The best alternative may be a
three-way debate between the major contenders.
May
30: Time
for Genuine Leadership.
Raising
taxes is not a serious transportation policy -- it's a
substitute for the creative thinking that the General
Assembly desperately needs to engage in.
May
15: Shades
of Francis Nicholson. Like
the power-hungry royal governor of old, Gov. Tim Kaine
seems willing to misuse the powers of his office. But
his budget brinksmanship could backfire.
May
15: Another
Grandiose Plan. Apparently,
$120 million to renovate the state Capitol complex
is not enough. The state Senate wants to spend
another $400 million.
May
1: "I
Don't Give a Rip".
Editorial
pundits are blaming Bill Howell for Virginia's budget
impasse. But John Chichester is the one who's repeatedly
used the threat of a government shut down to get his
way.
May
1: Discord
in the Axis of Taxes.
Tim
Kaine has split with the state Senate over increasing
the gas tax. That gives the House of Delegates a chance
to seize the initiative in the taxes-and-transportation
debate.
April
17: Howell
Gets Feisty.
One
reason the House of Delegates is holding firm in the
budget debate this year is that House Speaker Bill
Howell is more assertive, even combative, than ever
before.
April
17: Kaine
Reneges Again.
Tim
Kaine has broken three important promises in a mere
three months: First transportation taxes, then land use
reform, and now the marriage amendment.
April
3: Democracy
as National Religion. Contemporary
Americans worship democracy and majority rule. They
forget that the United States also is a
republic, which imposes checks and balances against
the tyranny of the mob.
April
3: Where
Have I Heard This Before? Tim
Kaine says his $1 billion tax increase will help relieve
traffic congestion. Sounds uncannily similar to claims
made in 1986.
March
20: Promises
Made, Promises Broken. Gov.
Kaine and his allies are willing to do anything to
push tax increases through the General Assembly --
even if it means eroding the integrity of the
governing process.
March
20: A
Sound Opinion. General
Bob McDonnell was right: Tim Kaine did exceed his
authority when conferring protected status upon sexual
orientation throughout state government.
February
27: Legislation
by Extortion.
The
state Senate is enacting spending programs
predicated on taxes that haven't been passed yet.
Will Chichester & Co. get their way again by
threatening another government shut-down?
February
27: Standing
up for Property Rights.
The
House of Delegates has passed legislation that will
protect property owners from unjust takings.
Unfortunately, the Senate's version of the bill
could do more harm than good.
February
13: Another
Legislative Impasse?
The
usual suspects are pushing hard for another tax
increase this year, but their position is weaker
than it was two years ago.
January
30: Kaine's
Plan Doesn't Cut It. Tim
Kaine's transportation plan will cost more money -
but it won't work.
January
30: Rethinking
Education Policy. The
problem with Virginia schools isn't a lack of money
-- it's the rigid, bureaucratic policies that
dictate how the money is being spent.
January
16: Building
Not the Only Solution. State-funded
highway and rail projects are not the only ways to
address traffic congestion in Virginia. It's time to
tap the creativity of the private sector.
January
16: Rethinking
Education Policy. The
problem with Virginia schools isn't a lack of money
-- it's the rigid, bureaucratic policies that
dictate how the money is being spent.
January
16: Judging
Mark Warner. Mark
Warner left office with many positive accomplishments,
as reflected in his popularity ratings. But let us not
forget, he also violated campaign pledges and the state
Constitution.
January
3: Caught
Between Extremes.
Developers
and environmental activists have one thing in common: a
willingness to use government power to affect land use.
Consumers are the losers.
January
3: A
Pricing Approach to Growth.
Growth
in Virginia is inevitable but sprawl is not. The key is
not more government control but less -- in particular,
an end to transportation subsidies.
-
2005 -
December
12: At
Last, a Debate on Sprawl. Inefficient
patterns of development contribute to pollution, traffic
congestion and local fiscal stress. With
the election of Tim Kaine, suburban sprawl has
finally become a statewide issue.
December
12: A
Better Way to Grow. Suburban
sprawl is the product of government subsidies. A free
market approach to development would be far more
efficient.
November
28: GOP
Must Look Forward
Rehashing
the reasons why Jerry Kilgore lost the election won't
get a Republican elected in 2009. Virginia's GOP needs
to figure out what it stands for.
November
28: A
Republican Policy Agenda
Any
GOP agenda needs to start with asserting control over
state spending, otherwise the low-tax mantra has no
credibility.
November
14: Power
Over Principle.
Compromising
his principles on abortion and capital punishment may
have helped Tim Kaine win the election, but he's lost
any claim to moral authority.
October
31: $2.2
Billion Ain't Chump Change.
Some
say the state revenue surplus is no big deal -- only
$3.3 cents on the dollar. It's exactly that kind
of attitude that has let spending run out of control.
October
17: Hither
the Surplus?
A
crucial issue facing Virginia is how to dispose of $2
billion in surplus revenues that will be baked into the
2006 budget. It should be treated as a windfall,
not a permanent increase in revenue.
October
17: Barnie's
Next Homework Assignment.
Read
the state Constitution and write a paper explaining
why the General Assembly cannot obligate future
legislatures to spending hikes.
October
3: Hide
the Pea. Virginia
has a sad history of politicians who tell voters they
oppose taxes then break their promise once elected. Will
November 2005 bring us more of the same?
October
3: Here
We Go Again. The
state budget is brimming with surplus revenues, but
legislators are sowing the seeds of Virginia's next
fiscal crisis by embracing new, long-term spending
commitments.
September
19: Baliles
Sharpens the Transportation Debate.
Jerry
Baliles has proposed a bold plan to increase
transportation funding. Trouble is, it would just inject
more money into the same failed transportation policies
of the past.
September
19: Warner
Blinked.
In
his bid for the U.S. presidency, Mark Warner made a
serious error in ruling out a 2006 run against
George Allen.
September
5: What
Was Kaine Thinking?
By
agreeing to debate Russ Potts, Tim Kaine is taking a
huge risk. Potts could well drain more votes from
Kaine than Jerry Kilgore.
September
5: Warner's
Credibility Gap. Mark
Warner bamboozled voters twice regarding his
intention to raise taxes. Now he wants people to
trust him as he negotiates $3 billion in VITA
contracts.
August
23: Bidding
War. Tim
Kaine and Jerry Kilgore are vying to see who can promise
the most new spending for education. It's more of the
same policy that's been failing us for the past 50
years.
August
23: No
Dog-Whistle Campaigning. There
is no fudging in the abortion debate. Either
Virginia's gubernatorial candidates clarify their
positions or they risk losing big chunks of the
electorate.
August
8: In
Search of a Budget Strategy.
The
state's swelling budget surplus should embarrass
Gov. Warner, but it doesn't. He says we need it to
pay for Virginia's bottomless needs. In other words,
spending is out of control.
August
8: Voters
Want Substance.
Transportation
will dominate next year's General Assembly session,
yet the press treatment of the issue goes no deeper
than campaign platitudes and media handouts.
July
25: Shades
of 1989.
Hearings
over U.S. Supreme Court appointments could influence
Virginia elections this year by elevating the
visibility social issues.
July
25: Tolls
Versus Taxes. Tolls
beat taxes as a funding mechanism for transportation
projects because those with money at risk have
reason to make realistic assumptions about costs
and traffic.
July
11: A
Budget Impasse in 2006?
Government
shutdowns are the nuclear option of state politics.
Virginia could be heading for just such a calamity
over transportation taxes.
July
11: Kelo
v. the Constitution. The
Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain has
galvanized the property rights movement in Virginia.
Even the politicians are hopping aboard.
July
11: Cranky
Cranwell. Gov.
Warner counsels rapprochement with Republicans in
Virginia. But the Democrats' new party chair has
swing into attack mode.
June
20: Recapping
the Primaries.
The
June Republican primaries were cast as a referendum
on last year's tax hike. Taxes were on the mind of
voters, but so were other issues.
June
6: The
Filibuster Fracas. In
the showdown over judicial appointments, John Warner
opted for comity in the Senate. George Allen stood for
principle: The majority should prevail.
June
6: Kaine's
Warner Problem. Mark
Warner has accomplished so much of the Democrats'
roads-and-schools agenda that he hasn't left Tim
Kaine much room to maneuver.
May
23: Justifying
Low Taxes.
Big
spenders list endless "unmet needs" to
justify tax hikes. Their foes must show how low
taxes meet laudable goals, too, like spurring economic
growth and protecting household income.
May
23: Boldness
Succeeds in Politics. Virginia’s
Republican Party doesn’t need unity or discipline
– it needs leadership and vision. Without those
traits, the GOP could go the way of the British
Tories.
May
9: Freedom
of Association.
The
freedom of people to associate freely--and exclude
others--is fundamental to liberty. State government
has no business telling the Virginia GOP who can
vote in its primaries.
May
9: National
Implications. Virginians
aren't the only ones watching the Kaine-Kilgore
match-up. The outcome of that race will shape the
prospects of 2008 presidential prospects George
Allen and Mark Warner.
April
25: Out
of Control.
A
new law giving public universities more autonomy is
not bad policy, but it fails to address the
underlying problem with higher ed in Virginia: the
relentless increase in spending.
April
11: To
Tax or Not to Tax.
McSweeney
defends earlier columns advocating a greater
private-sector role in addressing Virginia's
transportation woes.
April
11: Populist
or Elitist?
Tim
Kaine hasn't figured out what kind of image he wants
to project in his gubernatorial race. Recent
comments show two contending personalities.
March
28: Liberate
Transportation!
The last thing Virginia needs is to crank up
spending on a failed transportation system. It's
time to turn entrepreneurs loose to devise
innovative solutions.
March
28: Time for
a Serious Debate. Enough with the sound
bites and talking points! Virginia candidates for
higher office must outline their vision of what it
takes to make the Commonwealth competitive in a
global economy.
March
14: A
House Divided. Virginia
is a Republican-leaning state, but that may not
count for much with GOP legislators as deeply
divided as they are.
March
14: Driving
Blindfolded. The
Commonwealth's auto-centric transportation policies
have made Virginians increasingly vulnerable to
swings in the price of oil and events in the Middle
East.
February
28: Think
We Could Arrange a Trade? Virginia's
John Chichester wants to raise taxes. North
Carolina's Marc Basnight prefers to cut spending.
Who would you want on your team?
February
28: How
the Senate Really Operates. Richard
Saslaw and Russell Potts revealed the true
temperament of the state Senate by uttering in
public opinions normally expressed behind closed
doors.
February
14: Learning
from Maryland. If
you're used to thinking of our northern neighbor as
a land of liberalism, you might want to reconsider.
While Virginians talk of raising taxes--
again--guess who's been cutting them?
February
14: The
Public-Private Trap. Virginia
tried funding transportation projects through
"public-private partnerships" in the 19th
century. Advocates of that approach today might
think twice if they knew their history.
January
31: An
Ill Considered Plan. Steve
Baril's proposal to crank up borrowing and spending to
build more roads would saddle
Virginians with untold debt and do nothing to
improve traffic congestion.
January
31: Capitol Schlock.
The
architectural standards of Virginia's capital area
have gone downhill ever since Thomas Jefferson
designed the state capitol. It's time to give the
public more involved in planning.
January
17: They
Still Don't Get It. The
transportation plans proposed by Gov. Warner and
Speaker Howell differ in details but share a common
delusion: that it's possible to build our way out of
traffic congestion.
January
17: The
Burgers and Fries Diet. Virginia's
transportation system suffers from hardening of the
arteries. Our lawmakers' answer: Big Macs and extra
large french fries.
January
4: Vouchers
for Higher Ed. As
an alternative to subsidizing public universities,
Virginia should consider subsidizing student
tuitions.
January
4: Wake Up
Call for Virginia GOP. Paula Miller's
victory in last month's special Congressional
election demonstrated Democratic Party unity and
organizational strength. Republicans better get
their act together.
-
2004 -
December
13: Followship
or Leadership? Virginia
has plenty of risk-averse leaders willing to peddle
more-of-the-same solutions, but very few courageous
enough to
articulate the hard truths or push for innovative solutions.
December
13: A
Bad Idea that Just Won't Die.
Once again we're hearing that Virginia needs
two-term governors to carry out long-term reforms.
But sound ideas don't require a cult of personality
to be put into effect.
November
29: Kaine
Shapes His Campaign.
Virginia
may be a red state in presidential politics but
Democrats are still competitive at the state level.
Tim Kaine is getting out front on visible issues of
concern to Virginians.
November
29: The
Bill Is Coming Due. Government
policy over the decades has fostered an
auto-dependent transportation system. Virginia can't
afford to pump more money into that system without
fundamental reform.
November
15: In
Defense of A
Strange Notion. Every
four years we hear the cry to abolish the electoral
college. It's worth remembering why Virginia's founding
fathers adopted it in the first place.
November
15: Oops.
Instead
of the "structural budget deficit" cited
to justify $750 million in higher taxes, it looks
like the state might have a structural budget surplus.
The failure of Virginia's political class is
complete.
November
1: Getting
a Grip on State Spending. Gov.
Warner has yet to fulfill his promise to streamline
wasteful spending in state government. He could
start with his own office.
November
1: Teach
that Man Some Economics!
Congressman
Bobby Scott trashes President Bush's economic
policies, but he shows no understanding of the
factors driving economic growth and budget deficits.
October
14: Hush
Little GOP, Don't You Cry.
Demos gonna sing you a lullaby... The "leak" that the Kerry campaign has
written off Virginia may be meant to put Republicans
to sleep.
October
14: Vote
or
Die... Or Maybe Catch Some Extra ZZZs. High
voter turn-out doesn't help democracy if it's
greased by fraud or reflects the ill-informed
passions of the mob.
October
4: How
Conservatives Win and Lose. Conservatives
are right to push an anti-tax agenda for Virginia. But
it's a mistake to appear negative and vindictive.
October
4: High
on the Hog. Flush
with higher taxes and a growing economy, the Warner
administration is expanding state government again.
Does Virginia really need a secretary and a
commissioner of agriculture?
September
20: The Gay Agenda.
There is a gay agenda, and the tactics used to
advance it have become as hateful as the attitudes
of the alleged bigots that gay activists oppose.
September
20: Asleep
at the Switch? The
GOP may not think that Virginia is in play in this
year's presidential election, but a big push for Kerry
could help Mark Warner if (when) he challenges
George Allen in 2006.
September
7: Stepping
Over the Line. The
gay activist who "outed" Congressman Ed
Schrock engages in political extortion. Is there no
limit to the politics of personal destruction?
September
7: 1/30th
of a Loaf... is
better than none. Gov. Warner's one-time, $28
million tax give-back is welcome, even though it's
increasingly evident that his $1.5 billion-per
biennium increase was never called for.
August
23: How
Far We've Fallen. Americans
are losing their self reliance. Just compare the
life of hardworking, 102-year-old "Granny"
Grubb with Medicaid's latest: free stomach stapling
for the obese.
August
23: Trust
the People. Here's
a novel idea. Maybe politicians should tell people
what they really believe and let voters
choose the candidates whose views most reflect their
own.
August
9: The
VEA Shows its Hand. The
teachers union wants it all: $1.5 million per
biennium from tax hikes plus the $1 billion a
year Gov. Warner claims he can save through greater
government efficiency.
July
26: Where's
the Watchdog?
Republicans
have failed to wield their budgetary powers to
control the size of state government. It's time for
the General Assembly to exercise more
oversight.
July
12: Republicans
Need a Bold Agenda. The
next House election will likely be a referendum on
taxes. Gov. Warner and the Democrats will speak with
a unified voice. Will the Republicans?
July
12:
Gays Discriminate, Too. Gays
want the same marriage rights as heterosexuals. But
you don't hear them arguing to sanctify polygamy,
incest or pedophilia.
June
21: The
Phony Car Tax "Cap". Moody's
may have been impressed when lawmakers capped car tax
reimbursements at $950 million forever, but there's
nothing to stop a future legislature from changing
its mind.
June
7: Peoples
Republic of Virginia.
In
passing the $1.4 billion tax hike, Virginia's
lawmakers started the long march down the road toward socialism
and serfdom.
June
7: Hijacking
the Language.
The
path to higher taxes and socialism begins by
co-opting the meaning of words. Look how politicians
today equate the word "invest" with higher
government spending.
May
24: Constitution?
What Constitution? Yes,
Virginia does have a state constitution, though you
wouldn't know it from the actions of the General
Assembly.
May
24: Budget
Wars: Phase 2. With
tax revenues gushing -- even before tax hikes kick
in -- the pressure to cut state spending will
relent. The House of Delegates must keep the heat on
the Warner administration.
May
10: Can
the Republicans Regroup? Ridden
with dissension after the 2004 budget debate,
Republican legislators may be licking their
self-inflicted wounds for a long time.
May
10: They're
Baaaackk! Now
they want higher taxes for roads -- subsidies
for an inefficient transportation system that has
become too expensive to support.
April
26: Sheep
to the Shearing. The
muttonheads in the House of Delegates, bleating in
protest every step of the way, are getting fleeced
on the tax issue.
April
26: Unfair
and Unbalanced.
While
covering the dueling press releases in the battle
over the budget, the state press corps has
totally missed some big stories.
April
12: Defining
the Debate. Tax
advocates framed the budget debate as about funding
schools and roads -- issues that people care about.
Anti-tax forces never offered an alternative.
April
12: McSweeney
Defends Column, Scolds
Warner administration
March
29: Time
to Come Clean. Mark
Warner wants to take credit for streamlining state
government -- he just doesn't want to share the
savings with taxpayers.
March
15: Broken
Pledges. Warner,
Chichester and other elected officials need to be
held accountable for breaking their promises not to
raise taxes.
March
1: GOP
Gotterdammerung. Republican
leaders have forgotten the principles of limited
government that propelled them to power in the
General Assembly. We may be witnessing the twilight
of their rule.
February
16: Whose
Side is That Guy On? U.S.
Sen. John Warner undercut the Republican Party --
again -- with remarks last week that Gov. Mark
Warner construed as endorsing his tax-hike plans.
February
2: Let's
Try Spending Reform. Tax
hike zealots argue that the state has exhausted
budget-cutting opportunities. That's just plain
wrong. Virginia could save hundreds of millions of
dollars with little pain.
January
19: Spending Commitments?
The
General Assembly is not obligated to sustain
programs funded by previous legislatures, much less increase
spending. Lawmakers need to ask tough questions
before passing a budget.
January
5: Governing
on Impulse.
Gov. Warner's
rash ploy of submitting a budget with tax-hike
assumptions built in threatens to undermine the
tried-and-tested balance of power between
Virginia's governor and legislature.
-
2003 -
December
15: Where's
the Analysis? In
pushing a $500 million-a-year tax hike, Mark Warner
appears to assume that higher taxes will not slow
the state's economic growth. But it's hard to
know: He offers no numbers to go by.
December
15: Pulling
a Fast One. The
best parts of Gov. Warner's tax plan are measures
that the Republican General Assembly have already
approved. Most of the rest is questionable.
December
1: Out
of Hiding. Now
we know why Governor Warner didn't want to talk
about taxes before the November elections: He's just
proposed one of the biggest tax hikes in Virginia
history.
December
1: Shoot 'em and Bury
'em.
Jerry
Kilgore and Paul Goldman have floated some bad ideas
regarding debt and taxes. Their proposals should be
quickly and expeditiously disposed of.
November
17: Wait-and-See Warner.
Gov.
Warner could have turned the 2004 election into a
referendum on his tax proposals. But he didn't want
to take the risk. Now he will pay the political
price of his caution.
November
17: Commanding
the High Ground. Proponents
of higher taxes were too scared to take their case to the
voters this fall. House Speaker Howell, who has declared his opposition
forthrightly, occupies the high terrain.
November
4: Hard
Row to Hoe. Don't
expect much in the way of tax reform. The special
interests are in conflict and voters don't trust
legislators in Richmond to keep their promises.
October
20: Baliles
Gets It Wrong Again. Virginians
distrust government, the former governor says,
because agencies have been starved of funds -- in
other words because Virginians aren't taxed
enough.
October
20: Fraying
at the Edges.
Mark Warner’s
rural strategy helped get him elected governor, but "tax
reform" that favors rural communities may
alienate Northern Virginia.
October
6: The
Scandal That Won't Die. It's
looking like Republican leadership made Ed
Matricardi the fall guy in the eavesdropping
scandal. The GOP still needs to come clean.
October
6: Partisan
Blather. Blaming
Republicans for the run-up in state and local
indebtedness smacks of Democratic demagoguery.
There's plenty of blame to go around.
September
25: Bad
Moody’s. Some say Virginia’s budget outlook
is improving. But with the state on the Moody’s
watch list, Gov. Warner should be applauded for his
fiscal caution.
September
25: A
Blast from 'Bama. Alabama
voters just voted down a big tax increase. What is it
about "no tax hikes" that Virginia
politicians don't understand?
September
8: Who's
in Control Around Here? Some
say that the cost of the state budget is driven by
factors beyond the state's control, ergo, taxes must
be raised. Don't believe it.
September
8: Coming
to a Courthouse Near You... Enjoying
Alabama's flap over the Ten Commandments? Just wait
until someone tries to expunge God from Virginia's
Constitution.
August
25: Ready,
Aim, Shoot Foot!
What
gives with the Virginia business leadership's
support for higher taxes? Taxes kill jobs. And the
state hasn't begun to exhaust cost-cutting
measures.
August
25: The
Man with No Shame.
John
Chichester ducked the tax issue during his
re-nomination fight, but his recent remarks will
make the "t" word a hot topic in the 2003 General Assembly
elections.
August
11: Showing
Cleavage. To
maintain their electoral majority in the South,
Republicans must maintain clear differences with
Democrats on taxes, guns and traditional
values.
August
11: The
Quicksand of Tax Reform.
Finding
an appropriate tax mix for Virginia's localities is
no easy matter. Legislators should approach the
challenge of restructuring local government taxes
with caution.
July
28: Three
Cheers for Partisanship.
Cutting
a "bipartisan" agreement on tax
restructuring is just a ploy to keep the issue away
from the voters. We should stake out partisan
positions -- and then let the voters decide.
July
28: Show
us the Plan.
Gov.
Warner won't tip his hand on plans for restructuring
the tax code. Maybe that's because he wants to hide
from voters how he's breaking his campaign pledge not
to increase taxes.
July
14: FAQs
About SOQs. Despite
Democrats' claims, there is no state constitutional
mandate to fully fund educational "standards of
quality."
July
14: On
Taxes and Secret Meetings. Republicans
should beware Gov. Warner's beguiling rhetoric about
finding "common ground" on tax reform.
They might find themselves out-maneuvered.
June
30: What
Happened to Tax Reform?
If
his accomplishments so far this year are any indication,
Gov. Warner may go down in history as the
"sports" governor.
June
30: Put
an End to Open Primaries.
Mark
Warner helped defeat conservative General Assembly
candidates by encouraging cross-over voting by
Democrats -- reciprocating previous GOP tactics. The
practice needs to end.
June
16: Beaten
But Not Defeated.
Conservative
challengers to powerful GOP incumbents may have been
defeated in last week's primaries, but they aren't
going away.
June
9: A
Primary Test for Business Elites.
Virginia's
business leaders, advocates of big government in
Virginia, are pouring resources into protecting
their favorite incumbents against challenges by the
GOP rank and file.
June
2: A
Losing Strategy.
Every
election year, political consultants counsel
politicians to play to the middle. But what wins
elections is voter turnout spurred by sharp,
issue-driven campaigns.
May
26: The
Morning After.
Jerry
Kilgore is suffering repercussions from his fling
with pro-abortion forces. His ruling on the
"morning after" pill may jeopardize his
standing among pro-life Republicans.
May
19: Time
Bombs.
Political
subdivisions of the state are issuing debt with
informal assurances that, if needed, the state will
back them up with tax revenues. This reckless
fiscal practice could explode.
May
12: Integrity Schmegrity.
Virginia
once nurtured its reputation for the integrity
of its finances and debt. No longer. Legislators
have reneged on solemn promises to voters and bond
holders.
May
5: Government of the Elite,
By the Elite. A healthy electoral
system gives voters choices.
In Virginia,
gerrymandered districts stifle political competition
and engender electoral apathy.
April
28: A
Better Way to Finance Higher
Education.
It's
time to wean colleges from state subsidies and make
them more responsive to the marketplace.
April
21: Fiscal
Nicotine.
Like
other states, Virginia is addicted to revenues from
the tobacco settlement. That gives the Commonwealth
a stake in the health of cigarette manufacturers.
April
14: True
Progress for Minorities.
Obsession with
symbolic issues like cross burnings distract
African-Americans from focusing on issues, like K-12
education, that can really make a difference in
their lives.
April
7: Another
Warner Flip-Flop. The
governor is critical -- after the fact -- of
Virginia Tech's new, race-neutral admissions policy.
Why was he silent before, when decisions were being
made?
March
31: The
Governor Needs a Compass. After
more than a year in office, Gov. Warner has left the
public guessing what his guiding principles are --
or if he even has any.
March
24: The
Old Right's Quandary. "Old
Right" conservatives are suspicious of war,
which tends to expand government power. But there's
no way for America to isolate itself from terrorism
and weapons of mass destruction.
March
17: A
GOP Opportunity.
Democrats
want to use tax "restructuring" as a way
to raise revenue. Republicans should go to the
voters this fall promising to make it a way to reduce
the tax burden.
March
10: Tone
Down the Budget Debate. It
would be a mistake for Gov. Warner to veto the
entire budget submitted by the General Assembly. He
could accomplish many of his
goals through the judicious use of the line-item
veto.
March
3. Broken
Faith. Last
week, Gov. Warner backtracked on a campaign pledge
not to raise taxes. Politicians, it seems, have lost
all respect for the voters.
February
24. Stirring
Class Envy. Democrats
are demagoguing a proposed repeal of the Virginia
estate tax. It's a losing strategy: Virginians don't
have a problem with people passing along their
wealth.
February
17: Dissing
the Voters. The
state constitution requires voter approval of
state-backed bonds. Yet every year legislators come
back with some new scheme to bypass the public.
February
10: The
Democrats' Dilemma. With
General Assembly elections looming this fall,
Virginia Democrats find themselves with few strong
issues to campaign on.
February
3: The
Wrath of the Brahmins. The
ruling caste in the General Assembly put upstart
Senator Ken Cuccinelli in his place. But their
arrogance does not play well with the public.
January
27: The
Trust Deficit. Some
of Virginia's elected officials didn't get the
message in November: Voters don't trust tax-and-borrow schemes hatched behind the scenes.
January
20: Defining
Core Functions. There's
a simple criteria for deciding if a government
program is essential: What adverse consequences
would occur if the state shut it down?
January
13: Fine-Tuning the Constitution.
Virginians
should re-think the way they elect lieutenant
governors -- but the one-term limit on electing
governors works just fine.
January
6: Where's
the GOP Agenda? Republicans are likely to
get inundated with legislative trivia if they
don't define their priorities. Then Gov. Warner
and the Democrats will set the tone for the
General Assembly.
-
2002 -
December
23: False
Choice. Many
politicians assume the state has only two choices
to balance the budget: raise taxes or cut
programs. They ignore the option of changing the
way government does business.
December
16: The
Power of Symbols. Republicans appropriate
state funds to paint Vance Wilkins' portrait. The
governor cuts the traditional Capitol Christmas
tree. Which one looks to you like they're serious
about dealing with the budget?
December
9: Does
Anybody Want to Lead? Neither
the Republicans nor Democrats in Virginia offer a
compelling vision for the future.
December
2: Hey,
Look Over There! You can't blame
Mark Warner for distracting voters with talk about
two-term governors. But the idea is a bad one, and
we've got more immediate problems to worry about.
November
25: Confused
and Cynical. Voters
have every reason to be disenchanted with
political parties that articulate no consistent
principles or agendas.
November
18: Moving
Ahead on Transportation. Deprived
of new tax revenues, government should invite the
private sector to help address Virginia's
transportation challenges.
November
11: Ambiguous
Message. The
defeat of the sales tax referenda in Northern
Virginia and Hampton Roads could mean a number of
things. It may be too early to draw firm
conclusions.
November
4: Untouchable?
Proponents
of the Hampton Roads sales tax referendum swear the revenues
will be used for the transportation projects they say it will.
But there's no constitutional basis for such a claim.
October
28: Time
for a Serious Budget Debate. With
painful budget cuts still to be made, Virginia faces an
opportunity to shape state government for years to come.
October
21: Flawed
Assumptions. Governor
Warner is dealing forthrightly with a budget crisis he didn't
create. Next, he needs to address the underlying cause: bad
budget forecasts.
October
14: As
Good As Gold? North
Carolina lost its AAA bond rating. If Virginia isn't careful, it
could suffer the same fate.
October
7: Warner
Crosses the Line. Contrary
to what the governor says, hiking the sales tax is
not the only option for dealing with traffic
congestion.
September
30: That
Confederate Flag Again. Nearly
140 years after the Civil War, the old Stars and
Bars still inflames passions. But that's no reason
to ban it from the political realm.
September
23: Time
for Candor from Politicians.
The General Assembly
giveth, and the General Assembly taketh away.
Voters should be more skeptical of politicians'
solemn promises.
September
16: Preserving
a Basic Freedom. Freedom of religion
doesn't mean much if you can't educate your
children in a manner consistent with your values.
Virginians must preserve their private-school and
home-school options.
September
9. Where’s
Tim Kaine?
The
looming budget deficit puts the liberal Lieutenant
Governor in a ticklish position as he maneuvers
for the showdown with Jerry Kilgore in 2005.
September
3. A
Clash of Philosophies.
The
budget crisis creates a pivotal choice for
Virginia. Do we preserve government programs -- or
our tradition of low taxes?
August
26. It's
Time for a Real Budget Fix. The
blame game won’t solve Virginia’s budget mess.
Neither will one-time budget cuts. It’s time to deal with underlying causes.
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