Tag: Stephen D. Haner
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“Fair Share” Extracts Dues From 20,000 Workers
By Steve Haner Twenty thousand working families forced to pull $450 per year out of their tight family budgets may not think it “fair” that they are forced to “share” their earnings with a union they chose not to join. The debate over repealing Virginia’s Right to Work statute, or the more likely step of…
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“No Kill” Bill Returns to Reignite Animal Wars
By Steve Haner Another attempt to impose the “no-kill” philosophy on Virginia’s animal shelters is pending in the Virginia Senate, sponsored by a rural Republican who is the great champion of that (so-far) failed cause. After a long subcommittee hearing Thursday, his bill was put back in the shelter pen to await its fate for…
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Tax Reform Dies at Dawn, Tax Hike Fares Better
By Steve Haner The change in leadership in Mr. Jefferson’s Capitol has left one bad trend intact: The House Finance Committee still worries first and foremost about whether any tax policy change – no matter how meritorious — would interfere with state spending. It was the same under Republicans, unfortunately. New House Finance Chair Vivian…
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Bill to Expand (Pack?) SCC a First Test of Change
by Steve Haner Legislation to increase the size of the State Corporation Commission from three to five judges, giving majority Democrats a chance to pack the panel with their appointees, may provide the first real test of how much things have changed in New Blue Virginia. Freshman Delegate Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, introduced House Bill 1297,…
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Analysis: Only Assembly Can Impose Carbon Tax
By Steve Haner It is illegal in Virginia for a petroleum wholesaler to arbitrarily reduce the amount of product it provides to retailers. The General Assembly has intervened in that marketplace, probably for the reasonable public purpose of preventing price gouging. Regulating the sale of fuel for some other purpose should also require action by…
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At Least Some Legislators Dream of Tax Fairness
By Steve Haner The new chair of the House Finance Committee has introduced a major long-term tax reform proposal that will help most Virginia families, and the former chair of the same committee has offered a significant improvement to it. Both are good bills and combined they are great tax policy. Delegate Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax,…
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Legislative Staffer Files Retirement Mid-Meeting
By Steve Haner I am no longer with the Division of Legislative Services. If you need assistance, please contact…” That is the message you get back if you send an email today to one of the key players in all the energy debates down at the General Assembly, perhaps the key player during the actual…
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Electoral College Vote, Carbon Tax, Labor’s Wants
By Steve Haner The End of the Electoral College Looms The legislature’s new ruling Democrats, having celebrated their adoption of the national Equal Rights Amendment, may continue their Constitutional aspirations next week and try to kill the federal Electoral College. Some believe the will of Virginia voters in choosing presidential electors should be overridden by…
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No $220 Rebate Checks for Military Families?
By Steve Haner More than 400,000 Virginians failed to receive their $110 “Windfall Income Tax Rebate” in 2019 because, for perfectly valid and acceptable reasons, they didn’t file their returns by July 1. That allowed the Commonwealth of Virginia to hold onto $46 million more of the un-legislated state tax increase created by conforming to…
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Virtue Signal With Somebody Else’s Morning
Yesterday it was nice. This morning brings a downpour. Being in this line today will be less fun. Making everybody with legislative staff, state employee or registered lobbyist badges get screened and scanned before entering the Pocahontas Building to do (or watch) the people’s business will get us all soaked. (Even U.S. Senator Tim Kaine…
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Rate Case Bill Offers Repentence to Legislators
By Steve Haner Sinners! The hour of redemption is at hand! For years now some of you have deprived your fellow Virginians of a fair hearing in front of the judges set above them. To deny justice is among the worst of abominations, but a chance for salvation has appeared. Yes, I am talking to…
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2020 Assembly May Not Vote on Carbon Car Tax
By Steve Haner It now seems unlikely the 2020 General Assembly will act directly on Virginia’s membership in the proposed Transportation and Climate Initiative, an interstate compact to cap, tax and then start to ration fossil fuels that add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Virginia would be the southernmost member. While six pieces of pending…
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The 20% Growth Claim Is Not Misleading
HB 30 Appropriations Total As Introduced Year Grand Total ($Billions) % Over Previous % Over 2010 2010 77 2012 86 12 12 2014 97 13 26 2016 109 12 42 2018 116 7 51 2020 139 20 81 By Steve Haner As I noted earlier, defenders of state spending growth have a number of tools…
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John, Alternatives to the VEA Do Exist!
by Steve Haner Dear “John Randolph of Roanoke,” you very much have a choice if you are tired of paying dues to the Virginia Education Association. I saw your lament in the comment string on Jim Bacon’s report today about pending legislation to force non-union employees to pay union dues. “Can’t drop out though. These…
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A 20% Budget Explosion That May Keep Growing
By Steve Haner The interesting thing is not how Virginia’s overall budget has grown 20% in just two years (seen that number reported anywhere else?) What’s interesting is how many interest groups are openly pushing to make it even larger. The $23 billion increase is not enough! Just two years ago, in December 2017, Governor…