Tag: Dick Hall-Sizemore
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Higher Ed to General Assembly: More, More, More
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The 2022-2024 biennial state budget that became effective on July 1 included more than $1 billion in general fund appropriation for capital projects for institutions of higher education. This was in addition to at least $1 billion in general fund-supported appropriations in the previous biennial budget. One would think that more than…
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Too Much Money for Roads?!?
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Although gas prices have receded substantially from the levels that sent everyone into a tizzy earlier this year, Governor Youngkin has not given up on his proposal to lower gas taxes. Now, however, his rationale for the cut is different. According to veteran reporter Dave Ress, in an article that appeared in…
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A Broader Perspective on Teacher Shortages
by Dick Hall-Sizemore There have been several articles recently on this blog related to the looming shortage of teachers in Virginia. This is a legitimate, and serious, concern. The tone of many of those articles has been that one of the primary factors behind so many teachers leaving has been the breakdown in discipline resulting…
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Frank and Me
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Several commentators on this blog have frequently taken issue with the approach of the Virginia Dept. of Education’s (VDOE) Code of Student Conduct and its emphasis on avoiding suspensions. They often quote passages from that document without specifying what is wrong with them. Presumably, the wrongheadedness of the approach should be apparent…
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Status of Public Employee Collective Bargaining
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The Virginia Mercury has performed a service by compiling a list of the status of public employee bargaining in the Commonwealth. So far, eight jurisdictions have adopted ordinances authorizing collective bargaining agreements. There is activity in another six localities. “Activity” is defined as campaigns advocating collective bargaining agreements or local government officials…
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Virginia Republican Congressmen Do It Again
Virginia’s Republican representatives in Congress have again embarrassed the Commonwealth. The House of Representatives recently approved a resolution supporting the applications of Sweden and Finland to join NATO. The vote was 394-18. Three of those 18 “no” votes were from Virginia Republicans: Morgan Griffith (9th District), Ben Cline (6th District); and Bob Good (5th District). …
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Little Guys Lose, Again
by Dick Hall-Sizemore A recent article on this blog about the high cost of housing generated a considerable amount of discussion. Much of the discussion centered around the role of government in contributing to the affordable housing shortage. I offer another reason: good old-fashioned capitalism. A recent article in The Virginian Pilot well illustrates this point.…
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The VITA Exodus Continues
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The fourth high-ranking executive at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) has left since Governor Youngkin took office six months ago. Those that have resigned include the chief information officer that Youngkin appointed to take the place of Nelson Moe, the agency head under previous administrations; the chief operating officer; the deputy…
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Seven Years for Shooting a Guy Eight Times. Sounds Like a Pretty Good Deal.
by Dick Hall-Sizemore For all those folks on this blog who are concerned about “woke” prosecutors, leniency toward murderers, and enforcement of gun laws, here is a case to consider. A 17-year-old Black kid goes to a house to purchase four ounces of marijuana for $400. While meeting with the 19-year-old seller, the kid pulls…
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Prison Commissaries and Telephone Calls
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Jim Bacon recently posted an article about the cost of telephone calls, commissary items, etc. that prisoners in jails encounter. Having been for many years the analyst at the Department of Planning and Budget assigned to handle budget matters related to the Department of Corrections (DOC), I can add some further explanation…
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More Solar Generation Approved
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors has approved the development of the largest solar project in the Commonwealth and one of the largest east of the Mississippi River. As reported by the News & Record, the 800-megawatt Randolph Project, debated by the board for almost a year, will occupy approximately 6,000 acres. …
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Let The Children Play
by Dick Hall-Sizemore In an op-ed piece in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, a graduate student at the William and Mary School of Education advocates a change in the school schedule that I have long favored: more recess! Not physical education class, but pure, unstructured play time. Legislation enacted in 2018 requires a minimum of 680 hours…
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What About That Price of Gas?!!
by Dick Hall-Sizemore There was much wailing — on this blog, in Virginia, and in the nation — as gas prices approached and then exceeded $5 per gallon recently. Governor Youngkin and President Biden used those price levels to call for suspension of gas taxes. And what was the reaction of the general populace to…
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Those Progressive Prosecutors: The Sky Hasn’t Fallen
by Dick Hall-Sizemore There has been much concern expressed on this blog that the policies of newly elected “progressive” prosecutors in the Commonwealth would lead to increases in crime in those jurisdictions and, perhaps, a dissolution of society. See here, here, here, and here. Based on data in the recently released Crime in Virginia 2021,…
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The Abortion Hypocrisy of Glenn Youngkin
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Governor Youngkin recently told a forum organized by The Family Foundation that life begins at conception. I agree with that statement. He went on to say that he wanted to “protect life.” However, he said that he would be willing to settle for a bill that prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of…