Category: Business and Economy
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Heck No to Data Centers? Really?
by James A. Bacon Rural Virginia localities enjoy a historic opportunity to augment declining tax bases by courting solar farms and data centers. Remarkably, some local leaders regard the opportunity as a threat. They have convinced themselves that the critical infrastructure for the AI age threatens their rural quality of life. I can understand peoples’…
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Bacon Bits: Sickly, Sinking Feelings
A 4.7% unemployment rate next year? Virginia could lose 32,000 jobs this year due to federal spending cuts, as a result of which the state’s unemployment rate could rise to 3.9% this year and 4.7% in 2026, according to a study by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. The study counts…
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Having It Your Way
Or all sorts of ways, as the case may be. by Gordon C. Morse Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, says she’s opposed to repeal of Virginia’s right-to-work law – but, you know, maybe we can work something out. That appears to be the suggestion. The obvious retort: “She just wants to have it…
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Right-to-Work a Distraction from Issues That Matter
by Paul Goldman History says Democratic voters do not believe repeal of the right-to- law is a major issue. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, should have simply said no to repeal and pivoted to far more important issues to working families. The right-to-work law is increasingly irrelevant in today’s AI revolution, which is…
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Spanberger’s Right-to-Work Dodge
by James A. Bacon Abigail Spanberger, the Democrats’ gubernatorial hopeful, has declared that she would not sign a bill to repeal Virginia’s right-to-work law, which guarantees employees’ right to work at a company without paying dues to a union. But she’d be open to modifying it, she said. Here’s what she told WRIC-TV: “I think…
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Trump Policies Hitting Southwest Va.
by Dick Hall-Sizemore It is not only Northern Virginia that is beginning to feel the effects of Trump administration policies and actions. Southwest Virginia, Trump territory, is also being affected. Earlier this month, Volvo announced it would be laying off 250-350 employees at its Volvo Trucks New River Valley plant in Pulaski County. As reported…
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When Did Democrats Begin to Resemble the Rockettes?
Virginia Democrats long defended and preserved the state’s “right-to-work” law. They’re shifting in unison. by Gordon C. Morse Join a labor union, if you like. Or do not join a labor union, if you like. Your choice. Virginia law says that no one can force you to financially support a union as a condition of…
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Bonfire of the Sheepskins
by James A. Bacon As tuitions climb ever higher and the wage premium for a college degree has plateaued, an increasing percentage of Americans — especially younger Americans — consider their diplomas a waste of money, concludes Indeed.com, an online job site, on the basis of a new survey. Twenty percent of Baby Boomers considered…
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Business Needs Certainty. So Do Voters.
by Chris Braunlich Asked nearly 40 years ago what he needed most, less regulation or lower taxes, a small manufacturer of machine tools replied: “We need both,” he said, “but the thing we need most is certainty.” “Businesses have to plan out months and years,” he said. “We have to plan for employee salaries, tax rates,…
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“Green” Mandates, Profit Demands Drive Dominion Price Hikes
By Steve Haner The pending price increase for electricity from Dominion Energy Virginia is higher than the 14% jump reported by the news media, which basically parroted company releases. Should all of Dominion’s current rate applications at the State Corporation Commission be approved, residents and businesses will pay about 20% more. The 1,000-kilowatt hour monthly bill…
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The Plumber’s Apprentice
by Calder Svendsen I recently needed a plumber and was surprised when he showed up with an apprentice in tow — one of my former students. The young man had dropped out the year after taking my class, a decision that surprised no one who knew him well. He was capable, witty, and clever enough…
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Blue Collar Kids
by Calder Svendsen He said, “Look, I do the work, I’m passing, I’m just trying to graduate.” And he was right, on all counts. He was an average student who did average work and gave average answers when prompted. He had a penchant for distraction, even when he showed an interest in whatever we were…
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New Tariffs Will Damage Virginia’s Economy
By Derrick Max, No one can say we weren’t warned. During his debate with then Vice President Kamala Harris, President Donald Trump clearly stated, “other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world, and the tariff will be substantial…” Promises made, promises kept. Unfortunately.…
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PJM Capacity Auction Costs Coming to Your Dominion Bill
By Steve Haner Dominion Energy Virginia has asked to increase the amount it charges customers for fuel by more than 50%, in part because the cost of that fuel has proven stubbornly high and in part because it now wants to charge us for its out-of-state capacity contracts using the same account as fuel. The…
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Who’s Liberating Whom?
by Gordon C. Morse Loved the headline over an opinion in The Washington Post last Sunday morning: “The beginning of the end of the Trump era.” Well, that was easy. What a relief! And I was beginning to worry. The argument contained within the Post piece, such as it is, seems to recognize that something…