Tag: Dick Hall-Sizemore
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The Governor Seizes the Power
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The Virginia Department of Education (DOE) has issued its “guidance” on the usage of cell phones in schools. While there are lots of definitions and clarifications, the policy boils down to this: “Guidance” implies “suggested, but not mandatory.” That is not the case here. The document concludes with this directive: “School divisions are expected…
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Dismay at Mr. Jefferson’s University
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The sounds you hear coming from Charlottesville are the sounds of hopes being dashed. Critics of the president of the university, Jim Ryan, and what they claim are its bloated DEI bureaucracy, its high tuition, and its “intellectual monoculture” met reality. At its just-concluded meeting, “the Board buttressed the status quo.” Jim Bacon’s complaints…
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The Case Against Assault Rifles
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Pop quiz. Who said the following about assault weapons? “They are military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense…[and] which have become primary instruments of mass killing and terrorist attacks in the United States?” OK. So, it is a trick question. The correct answer is “none…
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Keep Your Hands Off My Single Family Zoning
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The high cost of housing is a frequent topic of discussion in society and on this blog. Some observers fault local governments for their restrictive zoning practices that limit density. According to this argument, increasing density would help mitigate the increase in housing costs. The argument has merit. However, its proponents seem to assume that…
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Still Clueless
by Dick Hall-Sizemore In a break from the practices of previous governors, Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed an outsider totally unfamiliar with state government in general and Virginia in particular to be his Secretary of Finance. Before his appointment, Steve Cummings had held several high-level positions in investment banking. After two and a half years on the job,…
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Be Careful What You Ask For
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) is very upset about the plan to locate a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Henrico County. This is the facility that features “historical horse racing,” which many have equated to slot machines. Churchill Downs, the parent company of Rosie’s, plans to open the facility in an existing shopping center, the…
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By the Way….
Those readers in the Bacon’s Rebellion community who view the Washington Post as a mouthpiece for progressives need to read the comments of the paper’s editorial board regarding Kamala Harris’ economic plan. For those who do not subscribe to the Post, here is the summation: “Instead of delivering a substantial plan, she squandered the moment…
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Youngkin Denies Virginia Taxpayers Access to Free Tax Services
by Dick Hall-Sizemore The 2022 federal Inflation Reduction Act directed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prepare for Congress a report on “a potential IRS-run free direct e-file tax return system (Direct File).” After delivering the report to Congress, the IRS proceeded to develop a pilot e-file tax return system and made it available to…
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Miscellaneous Musings
Hanover County teenagers are not that clueless The members of the Pamunkey Regional Library (Hanover County has the most members) have gone to great lengths to assure that books with explicit sexual content are shelved in the adult section, rather than the “teen section.” A recent phone call to the library confirmed that any teenager…
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A Tax Question
The numbers in the following scenario are not necessarily based in reality. They are used to illustrate a point. Mary Sue works as a housekeeper in a large hotel, cleaning guest rooms and changing bed linens. She makes $30,000 annually. Her employer deducts taxes, including Social Security, from her wages. Susie Que waits on tables in a busy…
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The Flimflam Blues
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Just out in time for the election season is a new song by Robin and Linda Williams. The nationally-acclaimed husband-and-wife duo has been writing and recording songs and giving concerts all over the country, as well as abroad, for almost fifty years. They were long-time regulars on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.…
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We’re Transparent Only When It Suits Our Agenda
by Dick Hall-Sizemore On Sept. 9, 2022, Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the creation of an “Election Integrity Unit” within his office. His press release contains this statement: I pledged during the 2021 campaign to work to increase transparency and strengthen confidence in our state elections. It should be easy to vote, and hard to cheat.…
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Now What Do We Do With Him?
by Dick Hall-Sizemore I was perusing the latest list of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s appointments and could not help smiling when I came across one entry: Carl Beckett, Special Assistant, Department of Corrections. I have no idea who Carl Beckett is. It was the position that caught my eye. “Special assistant” is a pretty non-descriptive job title. Some…
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Stifling Discussion in Hanover
A story in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch caught my eye. It revealed what seems to be an outrageous action by the Hanover County School Board. The story deals with the controversy over the recent resignation of the school superintendent. One school board member, in an e-mail exchange with a county resident, blamed the other school board members…
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Money Burning a Hole in their Pockets
by Dick Hall-Sizemore If anyone needs concrete evidence that the 2024 General Assembly had more money for the 2024-2026 biennial budget that it could responsibly spend, he need only to examine one little-known item in the budget: capital maintenance reserve (MR). In an earlier article, I examined this budget item and identified five agencies that…