Bacon's Rebellion

  • Bill Would Let Progressive Legislators Pick most of the Virginia Parole Board

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    by the Liberty Unyielding staff

    Does any other state do this? Let progressive legislators — rather than the governor — pick most of the members of its parole board? That’s what Virginia is about to do.

    On January 23, a Virginia Senate committee voted to do just that. It approved a bill, SB60, to expand parole for juvenile offenders. The bill was amended to give two progressive legislators the ability to pick 6 of the 11 members of the Virginia Parole Board, expanding the parole board by 6 members. (4 members of the parole board must vote to release any offender serving life without parole, so expanding the parole board to 11 members makes it much easier to release murderers and other inmates serving a life sentence).

    Under current law, the Virginia Parole Board has 5 members, all of whom are appointed by the governor, and confirmed by the legislature.

    Parole board members picked by a governor are less likely to release dangerous inmates than parole board members picked by a progressive legislator. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger represents swing voters who could turn against her if her appointees to the parole board release dangerous inmates. So her appointees are unlikely to empty the state’s prisons or release high-risk inmates. If they did, she would be blamed, and so would they. (She can fire her own appointees to the parole board). Spanberger has been floated as a future possible presidential candidate, and may wish to become president or a U.S. senator. To win a statewide election in Virginia, Spanberger needs votes from independents and moderates, not just Democrats or progressives.

    (more…)

  • Light Rail: The Bad Idea That Will Not Die

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A modern tram approaching a stop on tracks, with a tower in the background and trees lining the street.

    by Kerry Dougherty

    Good grief.

    I thought we drove a stake through the heart of the foolish notion of extending light rail to Virginia Beach back in 2016.

    Apparently not. 

    Del. Alex Askew, Democrat of Virginia Beach, is asking Richmond to commission a two-year study to determine the feasibiity of extending Norfolk’s failed light rail system to the oceanfront in Virginia Beach. 

    Please, no. Enough money has been wasted on this developer-driven boondoggle. Voters realized that the rail system was never going to be a commuter rail but rather it would allow city power brokers to get rich building ant colonies around each stop. A 2016 referendum to extend the failure to Town Center was defeated in a landslide.

    Take was when the extension would have cost $100 million a mile. That cost has probably quadrupled by now.

    I wrote dozens of metro columns for The Virginian-Pilot persuading voters to reject folly. 

    I was right, of course. A column penned by Randal O’Toole, a Cato Institute expert on public transportation, neatly explained the folly of this system in a 2021 piece “celebrating” the 10-year anniversary of The Tide.

    Light rail was a mistake from the beginning. As I’ve repeatedly noted before, it was rendered obsolete in 1927, when the first rear-engine buses were developed that were less expensive to buy and less expensive to operate than rail transit. Buses can also move far more people per hour than rail.

    Norfolk light rail is particularly pathetic. In 2019, it carried an average of 12.4 people per 68-seat railcar (that is, 12.4 passenger-miles per vehicle-revenue mile), less than any other light-rail system in the country. Fares covered less than 14% of operating costs, not the lowest but well below the 22% average for light rail nationwide. These numbers are all from before the pandemic, but as of June, 2021, ridership was still 58% less than 2019 numbers, which means trains were emptier and fares covered even less of the cost of running the Tide. Continue reading.

  • Revenue Hungry Democrats Fill a Buffet Table of Tax Bills

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    by Steve Haner

    Governor Abigail Spanberger so far is no more clear on her tax and spending priorities than Candidate Spanberger was, but her fellow Democrats in the General Assembly are laying out a smorgasbord of tax increase options for her.     

    Would she like a major “tax the rich” approach? Start with Delegate Vivian Watt’s House Bill 979, pending in the committee the Fairfax Democrat chairs. It would create two new tax brackets on taxpayers with higher incomes, 8% on taxable incomes higher than $600,000, which then rises to 10% on income of more than $1 million.   

    Do you want to tax upper-income families another way? Many get much of that income from investments, and House Bill 378 from another Northern Virginia Democrat imposes a 3.8% piggyback income tax on net investment income reported on their tax returns. It will not kick in until $500,000 in such income is received. That is the same supplemental tax rate as is applied by the federal Net Investment Income Tax, but HB 378 uses a higher threshold before the tax starts. 

    (more…)

  • A Rejoinder to Hans Bader

    Posted on

    by

    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    by Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Courtesy of wallpaper.com

    Hans Bader has published an extensive article in BR opposing bills introduced in the General Assembly that would enable judges to give a “Second Look” at inmates with long sentences. As I was preparing my comments to the article, they themselves became so extensive that I decided an rejoinder article would be more appropriate.

    The bill (HB 853 and SB 634) would establish in which an offender in a Virginia state prison could petition the court to take a “Second Look” at his sentence. How long on his sentence an offender would have to serve before filing such petition would depend on the nature of the offense. After consideration of the petition and comments provided by the Commonwealth’s attorney and victims, a judge could reduce the offender’s sentence and even order him released, if the court finds “the petitioner has changed since the time of his original sentencing or … there is good cause to modify his sentence.” In effect, the bill establishes a parole process overseen by the judge who handed down the original sentence.

    In setting out his opposition to the legislation, Mr. Bader cites recidivist statistics that he has used in the past. There are several reasons why his statistics are weak:

    1. Not applicable to Virginia. He tells us a story about how early releases of offenders led to more crime in Italy. He cites national arrest statistics. He does not cite Virginia recidivist data for a reason: the Commonwealth has the lowest recidivist rate in the nation.

    (more…)

  • No, Fools, We Really Need the Gas

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    Today demonstrates once again that thermal generation sources – natural gas, nuclear, coal and oil – provide the electricity that keeps us alive when the cold gets to deadly levels (no, it isn’t the heat we need to worry most about).

    At 11 a.m., according to a PJM Interconnection tracking website, about 90 percent of the electricity in that 13-state region was coming from those sources and less than 10% was coming from the so-called “renewable” sources. The massive solar facilities that Democrats seem to worship as sacred, and wish to force on us over local objections, are worthless at times like this. Worthless. Wind is only slightly better.

    (more…)

  • Top U.S. Foundations Fund the Desecration and Destruction of Fine Art

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    by Patricia N. Saffran

    A bronze sculpture depicting a horse rearing up with a knight in armor, set against a brick wall in an art gallery.

    The Monuments Exhibition in Los Angeles, co-presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Brick, features historic Confederate Beaux Arts statues splashed with paint and graffiti, along with contemporary art based on a theme of satirizing the South. Most notably, the exhibition displays the once-magnificent historic Charles Keck equestrian statue of Stonewall Jackson after it had been dismembered and reassembled in grotesque form.

    I attempted to pose questions to the presidents of some of the world-famous foundations that financed the exhibit. The foundation presidents refused to answer any questions. Transparency among foundation officials doesn’t exist.

    Those questioned include representatives for Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation, John Silbeman, President of the Teiger Foundation, and Joel Wachs, President of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, also Treasurer of the Teiger Foundation and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. 

    The following questions were directed in particular to the Mellon Foundation:

    (more…)

  • Bill Would Effectively Abolish Life Without Parole

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    by the Liberty Unyielding staff

    A close-up photograph of a man with short hair and a serious expression, facing the camera directly.
    Anthony Juniper: saved from execution by Virginia’s abolition of the death penalty.

    When Virginia abolished the death penalty in 2021, Virginians were assured that it wasn’t needed, because the worst murderers could be given life sentences without the possibility of parole.

    But soon, even the worst killers could be released. Legislation has been introduced to allow all prison inmates serving long sentences to seek release after specified periods — even serial killers, child killers, and other murderers who once would have been eligible for the death penalty. HB 853 and SB 634, known as the “second look” bills, have been amended to create three tiers for release. Some inmates could seek release after 15 years, while those who commit the most serious offenses would have to wait 20 years or 25 years, depending on their offense.

    A smiling woman with long dark hair wearing earrings, photographed closely with an expressive pose. There is a name and dates below the image.
    Keshia Stephens: unavailable for comment

    Most Virginia inmates already spend less than 15 years in prison. For example, manslaughter carries a sentence of one to ten years. Drug possession can lead to sentences of up to 6 months, 1 year, or 10 years, depending on the type of drug.

    But some murderers, such as serial killers, are serving sentences of life without parole. This “second look” legislation could not only release them, but give them more freedom than they would get from parole. Inmates released on parole are subject to the supervision of a parole officer, and if they misbehave, they can be sent back to prison for a long time. But inmates released under HB 853 and SB 634 would be free as a bird, with no parole officer to keep tabs on them.

    (more…)

  • Jeanine’s Memes

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A news anchor sitting at a desk, smiling and gesturing, with a skyline backdrop and a speech bubble stating, 'My job is to make you think the views of 10% of the country are actually the views of 80% of the country.'

    View more memes at The Bull Elephant

  • After Last Year’s Overhaul, Va. Lawmakers Consider Tweaking K-12 Assessment Testing

    Posted on

    by

    Todd Truitt

    Bills would address students’ final grade, administration of tests and retakes

    by Nathaniel Cline

    Less than a year after it was enacted, lawmakers will revisit a proposal that brought major changes to Virginia’s K-12 public school testing system, with the main debate centering on whether to keep or repeal a provision passed last year that requires assessments to count for 10% of students’ final grades.

    A classroom setting with students actively participating; some are raising their hands while a teacher engages with them.
    Photo credit: Virginia Mercury

    Overhauling the testing system aims to raise student performance, strengthen outcomes and make the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in core subjects (math, reading, history and social science) more meaningful. 

    The changes made to SOL testing to tie test scores to final grades, shift test timing, and give parents clearer results garnered widespread support in the General Assembly. However, some lawmakers, like Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, who opposed certain portions, argued the education community did not entirely support the revamp. (more…)

  • Keep RGGI Tax Off Customers? Good Luck With That

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    by Steve Haner

    Sen. Adam Ebbin
    Photo credit: Washington Post

    Virginia Democrats are so eager to reinstate a carbon tax on Virginia’s electricity producers that there are now three pathways active to accomplish the goal: a bill, a budget amendment and a motion filed with the Virginia Court of Appeals.

    There is also discussion in the most recent Inside Climate News report today about finding some way to make the utility companies and independent generators eat the cost. Otherwise, what will happen in 2026 and beyond will be what happened during the previous three years Virginia imposed the tax – it will get passed on to customers.   

    Inside Climate News quoted Alexandria Senator Adam Ebbin saying “there very well may be” a way to make energy producers pick up more of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative costs. No, not the energy producers, senator – but you could force the cost onto the shareholders of those companies. (In the case of Virginia’s many electric cooperatives, the shareholders and the customers are the same, so no break for them.)

    Too many legislators and voters do not understand the basic truth that only people pay taxes. Tax a business (or impose a tariff) and the money generally is made up three ways: from a price increase, or a reduction in profits shared with the owners or stockholders, or some internal cost cut, usually in personnel or benefits. All three combined are a possibility. The money comes from people.

    It is also a basic tenet of the regulatory compact that grants our utilities their monopoly territories that they are entitled to recover 100% of their legitimate costs. All their other taxes – and there are many — come through to customers on bills, and the RGGI tax should be the same.

    (more…)

  • Bacon Meme of the Week

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A plate of crispy bacon strips with humorous text about a retirement plan centered around eating bacon.

  • Touching the Third Rail: A Legislative Pay Raise to $45K

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), 

    An amendment to the introduced state budget, proposed by Senator Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, adds $2.1 million to the Legislative Department plan for the second year (fiscal year 2028). Explanation? This amendment provides $2.1 million GF the second year to increase the salary of the members of the General Assembly to $45,000 a year from current levels for all Senators and Delegates. This increase would be effective in January 2028, after the next election of the General Assembly.

    Current salaries are $17,640 per annum for members of the House of Delegates and $18,000 per annum for State Senators. The discrepancy goes back to the early 1990s, when in a budget crunch former Governor Douglas Wilder proposed 2% pay cuts for state employees. The Republicans in the House of Delegates, then in a minority status close to where they are now, offered a floor amendment to reduce legislative salaries the same 2%. Enough House Democrats went along to put it into the budget.

    And the final conference committee on the budget thought it was a fine idea — for House members — but restored the full $18,000 for Senators. Wilder, a former member of the Senate, didn’t object. The salary differential has remained the same for more than 30 years, while the other forms of legislative compensation (mileage, per diem, stipends for off-session meetings) have soared. Just who were the fiscally conservative House Republicans and their staff person who dreamed up that floor amendment? Lost in the fog of time. Ahem. My memory fades on who was executive director of the GOP caucus that year. (It probably has saved taxpayers about $1.25 million at $36,000 per year!). 

    Be careful what you ask for? Isn’t that the phrase? — SDH

  • Minneapolis, Here We Come

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    All the pieces are falling into place for Minneapolis-style chaos in Virginia.

    A man in a suit with a tie sitting in a formal setting, engaged in an interview.

    On Fox News, White House border czar Tom Homan responds to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s executive order suspending the Virginia State ‘s mandatory cooperation with ICE. Homan vows the Trump administration “will forge ahead with its deportation efforts despite resistance from Virginia’s new Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger.”

  • Abigail Spanberger: The Left’s Trojan Horse

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A woman in business attire emerging from a large wooden horse sculpture.
    Image made by Grok

    by Kerry Dougherty

    Remember last summer’s gubernatorial campaign? All of candidate Abigail Spanberger’s happy talk about affordability, moderation and working across the aisle?

    Congratulations, voters. You got played.

    If there was any lingering hope that the Democrat majority in Richmond would wield their power judiciously that was laid to rest this week. It’s clear now that Virginians elected a far-left radical as governor and filled the General Assembly with left-wing extremists.

    What could possibly go wrong?

    Oh, the Trojan horse governor may make a show of vetoing a bill or two in order to position herself as a moderate when she seeks national office (you’ve been warned) but by turning Virginia into a sanctuary state with the stroke of a pen on Inauguration Day, she was immediately unmasked.

    In one week the new governor and her friends have turned Virginia into a woke DEI-worshipping, Marxist sanctuary state. They’ve proposed massive tax increases, gun restrictions, revolving doors on prisons and abolishing mandatory minimum sentences for serious criminals from kiddie porn peddlers to rapists. They want to make it easy to sue law enforcement officers and hard to lock up criminals. Oh, they also want boys competing in girl’s sports and they have several bills aimed at making voter fraud easier to commit. Continue reading.

  • Education Tax Credits In Virginia – A Win Win On the Politics?

    Posted on

    by

    Todd Truitt

    You know who likes optionality? That’s right, politicians do.

    by Andrew Rotherham

    Let’s start with the high note. I came of age in the Mary Sue Terry and Douglas Wilder era of Virginia politics. Robert Frye, the first Black school board chair in Fairfax County, lived a few houses down from me. That first might not seem like a big deal now, but it was at the time. Abigail Spanberger becoming governor of Virginia this past weekend is another important—albeit, in my view, long overdue—first. It’s good to see. She’s going to have her hands full, though. Her pick for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jenna Conway, is a fantastic choice, serious talent.

    Created by Grok

    Earlier this month, on his way out the door at the end of this term (Virginia governors only serve one), outgoing Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) announced that Virginia would participate in the new K-12 education tax credit program included in last year’s tax bill—the “OB3,” or whatever you want to call it bill. On the one hand, the Virginia announcement was a little premature. The regulations for the new program (which we just talked about) aren’t done, and there are potential moving parts. On the other hand, Youngkin is a private citizen again, and he was in a hurry at the end of his term.

    People predictably fell apart.

    Let’s stipulate we probably won’t see the same reaction if Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), who also said his state will participate, ends up as the Democratic nominee in 2028. Or if other blue state governors get it. Former Obama Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Democratic mayor Jorge Elorza have urged Blue states to participate. I’m not saying it’s a great policy you should embrace. I am suggesting you evaluate it on its merits rather than let partisanship rot your brain. There is a lot going on here around it. (more…)

Now Available

Book cover of 'Dust Mites: A Second American Revolution' by James A. Bacon, featuring astronauts planting a flag with a blue and white emblem on a lunar landscape, with Earth visible in the background.
For sale on Amazon.com

The year: 2075. The American colonies on the Moon are getting restless under Washington’s tyrannical rule….

This second edition of “Dust Mites” has a snazzy new cover, includes helpful lunar maps, and is 5,000 words tighter than the original. The sequel, “Trogs,” is scheduled for publication this summer.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

About

Bacon’s Rebellion is Virginia’s leading politically non-aligned portal for news, opinions and analysis about state, regional and local public policy. Read more about us here.

Fund the Rebellion

Shake up the status quo! Your contributions will be used to pay for faster download speeds and grow readership. Make a one-time donation by credit card or contribute a small sum monthly.

Can’t wait until tomorrow

For your Bacon’s Rebellion fix?

Enter your email address to receive immediate notifications of new posts by email.

SUBSCRIBE

Search Bacon’s Rebellion

Categories

Archives

The Jefferson Council

Protecting Thomas Jefferson’s Legacy at the University of Virginia

Forgot Your Password?

Shoot me an email and I’ll generate a new password for you.

Latest