The J.R. Hoeft Show

Norm Leahy, columnist with The Washington Post, and I look at absentee voting in the age of the Coronavirus, rethinking the state budget, and the 7th District Congressional Race. The interview is with Eric Wilson, a digital communications strategist and candidate for the Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee. We talk about an initiative he is working on, “Build and Grow RPV.”

“Virginia should be the center of excellence for state parties across the country. It should be a testbed for our party because we have elections every single year. That’s a perfect environment…for innovating, for testing, and learning. But we’ve just sort of grown stagnant.” - Eric Wilson

Show Notes:

I asked Mary Lynn Pinkerman, General Registrar, City of Chesapeake several questions related to the city’s preparation for the upcoming May election.

1 - Absentee

voting began March 20 - does the pace in Chesapeake indicate a higher turnout

than regular years?

* Yes, but we have worked with Public Communications to get the word out to vote absentee by mail.  The Department of Elections website also is encouraging this as well.

2 - How many

ballots have been requested and returned to date?

* 1664 [have been requested]. It is still so early as the ballots have only been mailed within the past 10 days, so we have only had 58 returned so far.

3 - Has the

city taken any measures to increase the number of ballots available?

* We are reallocating ballots from Election Day to Absentee to reduce the waste of funds.

Has the

budget been increased?

* No

Are you

getting any additional financial support from the state?

* No

4 - Do you

have any different procedures in place than you would for a normal election?

* Yes. We are waiting to hear more information in the next couple of days from the Department of Elections as to how to proceed on Election Day.  Because the City of Chesapeake offices are closed to the public, we are having to do curbside voting for all voters who come to do in-person absentee voting.  We want that to be a last resort, and for voters to please use the online and mail options as much as possible for their safety as well as the staff.

Senate Republicans again reiterated their concern about the budget in a letter to Governor Northam:

Provided the June 10 expiration of Executive Order 55 remains operative, most of Virginia’s economy will have been shut down for a three-month period. With a profoundly negative effect on anticipated state revenues inevitable, it would be fiscally reckless to enact House Bills 29 and 30 without extensive revisions reflecting the expected shortfall. As the April 11 deadline for amending the 2018-2020 and 2020-2022 Biennial Budgets is now less than two weeks away, we urge you to submit amendments that accurately reflect our new fiscal reality. By using the 2018-2020 Biennial Budget – as originally enacted in 2018 – as a baseline, we could significantly minimize the disruptions to the Commonwealth and its citizens resulting from the current suspension of economic activity.

In my interview with Eric Wilson, we discuss:

* Going from Texas to Capitol Hill (intern for Rep. Michael Burgess)

* Working on campaigns with Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn

COVID-19 continues to dominate the conversation as Norm Leahy, columnist for The Washington Post, joins J.R. to discuss Virginia impacts. Topics include closing schools for the remainder of the year, Liberty University reopening, the mixed messages between state and federal government, herd immunity v. quarantine, the potential for “shelter in place” rule in Virginia, and boldly spending to prop up the economy.

For the interview, J.R. is joined by Shaun

Flanagan – Director, Center for Metrics for the Legatum Institute. In the show,

Flanagan explains why statistics matter, the purpose of the Legatum Institute, why

a think-tank in England is looking at global and U.S. prosperity, what

constitutes their prosperity index – especially their “Pillars of Prosperity”,

the regional differences between the states, and the performance of Virginia.

Virginia, home of the “Virginia

Declaration of Rights”, today ranks 30th among the states in

personal freedom. And, even though CNBC ranks the state 1st for business,

Legatum found that we are 30th in economic quality. Flanagan helps

us understand what exactly these

scores mean.

We also

explore recent legislation passed by the General Assembly, especially the budget

that increases state spending by 20%, more mandates, a higher minimum wage, and

higher taxes. In general, he helps un understand the effect of such policies on

the pillars of prosperity.

We also look at the potential impact of COVID-19 on scores both at the Global and U.S. level.

Links of note:

* Shaun Flanagan, Director, Centre of Metrics, Legatum Institute* U.S Prosperity Index* Liberty University welcomes students back to campus despite coronavirus outbreak (Washington Post)* Life in Virginia probably won’t return to normal for 2 or 3 months, Northam says (Virginian-Pilot)* Northam orders sweeping new restrictions on life in Virginia, says the state is at ‘war’ with coronavirus (Virginian-Pilot)* Truckers working overtime, pleading with public to stop stockpiling (WVEC-13)* GOP candidate sues Virginia election officials, says coronavirus thwarted efforts to get ballot signatures (Virginia Mercury)* Anyone can vote by mail in May city elections because of coronavirus outbreak, state says (Virginian-Pilot)

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If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcasts,

COVID-19 continues to dominate the conversation as Norm Leahy, columnist for The Washington Post, joins J.R. to discuss Virginia impacts. Topics include closing schools for the remainder of the year, Liberty University reopening, the mixed messages between state and federal government, herd immunity v. quarantine, the potential for “shelter in place” rule in Virginia, and boldly spending to prop up the economy.

For the interview, J.R. is joined by Shaun

Flanagan – Director, Center for Metrics for the Legatum Institute. In the show,

Flanagan explains why statistics matter, the purpose of the Legatum Institute, why

a think-tank in England is looking at global and U.S. prosperity, what

constitutes their prosperity index – especially their “Pillars of Prosperity”,

the regional differences between the states, and the performance of Virginia.

Virginia, home of the “Virginia

Declaration of Rights”, today ranks 30th among the states in

personal freedom. And, even though CNBC ranks the state 1st for business,

Legatum found that we are 30th in economic quality. Flanagan helps

us understand what exactly these

scores mean.

We also

explore recent legislation passed by the General Assembly, especially the budget

that increases state spending by 20%, more mandates, a higher minimum wage, and

higher taxes. In general, he helps un understand the effect of such policies on

the pillars of prosperity.

We also look at the potential impact of COVID-19 on scores both at the Global and U.S. level.

Links of note:

* Shaun Flanagan, Director, Centre of Metrics, Legatum Institute* U.S Prosperity Index* Liberty University welcomes students back to campus despite coronavirus outbreak (Washington Post)* Life in Virginia probably won’t return to normal for 2 or 3 months, Northam says (Virginian-Pilot)* Northam orders sweeping new restrictions on life in Virginia, says the state is at ‘war’ with coronavirus (Virginian-Pilot)* Truckers working overtime, pleading with public to stop stockpiling (WVEC-13)* GOP candidate sues Virginia election officials, says coronavirus thwarted efforts to get ballot signatures (Virginia Mercury)* Anyone can vote by mail in May city elections because of coronavirus outbreak, state says (Virginian-Pilot)

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcasts,

In Episode 73, Norm Leahy, local columnist for The Washington Post, and J.R. discuss the local impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as a call for a special session of the General Assembly by State Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment. From the Norment press release calling for the session:

Norment is requesting that a revenue reforecast be provided to the General Assembly. Additionally, Norment calls for consideration of legislation limiting the liability of employers with employees who have been exposed to the Coronavirus and continue to work without the employers’ knowledge of that exposure. Finally, Norment is calling for the exactment of legislation granting local governments and regional commissions greater latitude to conduct necessary business during the continuing state of emergency.

For the interview, J.R. interviews the Communications Director for House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert. Shipley effectively works as the lead communicator for the House Republican Caucus. For the interview, we discuss:

* How journalism prepared him for his job;* His daily routine during and out of session;* Evaluating the message;* Surprises from this General Assembly session – including gun laws, the repeal of commonsense abortion limits, redistricting (and some true profiles in courage for some Democratic members), criminal justice changes, and transportation (spoiler alert: we still have a Car Tax and an increase in the gas tax);* His view on legislation impacting Virginia’s pro-business environment (including minimum wage, right to work, tax increases); and* the new state budget.

“We’re working very hard to make [dealing with Coronavirus] somewhat better,” Shipley said. “Republicans and Democrats alike, across the General Assembly, are working with the administration, talking amongst ourselves, trying to get the best plan to move forward as quickly as we can to help those folks who are hurting right now.”

Links of note:

* House Republican Caucus* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (COVID-19 Advice)* Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Cases (Official)* Warning on Malware (ReasonSecurity - How hackers are using the Johns Hopkins map)* Norment Letter to Governor Northam

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcasts,

In Episode 73, Norm Leahy, local columnist for The Washington Post, and J.R. discuss the local impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as a call for a special session of the General Assembly by State Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment. From the Norment press release calling for the session:

Norment is requesting that a revenue reforecast be provided to the General Assembly. Additionally, Norment calls for consideration of legislation limiting the liability of employers with employees who have been exposed to the Coronavirus and continue to work without the employers’ knowledge of that exposure. Finally, Norment is calling for the exactment of legislation granting local governments and regional commissions greater latitude to conduct necessary business during the continuing state of emergency.

For the interview, J.R. interviews the Communications Director for House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert. Shipley effectively works as the lead communicator for the House Republican Caucus. For the interview, we discuss:

* How journalism prepared him for his job;* His daily routine during and out of session;* Evaluating the message;* Surprises from this General Assembly session – including gun laws, the repeal of commonsense abortion limits, redistricting (and some true profiles in courage for some Democratic members), criminal justice changes, and transportation (spoiler alert: we still have a Car Tax and an increase in the gas tax);* His view on legislation impacting Virginia’s pro-business environment (including minimum wage, right to work, tax increases); and* the new state budget.

“We’re working very hard to make [dealing with Coronavirus] somewhat better,” Shipley said. “Republicans and Democrats alike, across the General Assembly, are working with the administration, talking amongst ourselves, trying to get the best plan to move forward as quickly as we can to help those folks who are hurting right now.”

Links of note:

* House Republican Caucus* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (COVID-19 Advice)* Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Cases (Official)* Warning on Malware (ReasonSecurity - How hackers are using the Johns Hopkins map)* Norment Letter to Governor Northam

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcasts,

Episode 72 of The J.R. Hoeft show has Norm Leahy, local

columnist for The Washington Post, discussing unintended consequences to higher

education due to the Corona Virus and the aftermath of the General Assembly.

The consequential gathering of the worthies included progressive legislation on

firearms, abortion, marijuana, redistricting, and more, but was it as

apocalyptic as some conservatives are making it seem? Norm and J.R. also dig

into the numbers of Super Tuesday’s results in Virginia’s Democratic Primary

for President and share what it means for the November General Election.

In the main interview, J.R. is joined by Michael Petrilli, co-editor of HOW TO EDUCATE AN AMERICAN: The Conservative Vision for Tomorrow’s Schools (Templeton Press), which is a series of essays by noted conservative writers on education reform, including Michael Barone, Bill Bennett, Arthur Brooks, Jonah Goldberg, Yuval Levin, Heather Mac Donald, and many others. Pitrelli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, offers personal insights on his interest in education reform, as well as recounting his journey to become one of the leading voices in the movement. Additionally, we explore the topics of charter schools and school choice, the importance of knowing our nation’s history, individual character, accountability in learning (including the Standards of Learning/testing), the cost of higher education, and the value of learning a trade.

Links of note:

* Review of the book from Psychology Today

* Is School Choice Enough? (Petrilli in National Affairs)

* CDC Funding by State

* Virginia Registration and Turnout Statistics (1976-Present)

* Results of 2020 March Democratic Presidential Primary

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcast

Episode 72 of The J.R. Hoeft show has Norm Leahy, local

columnist for The Washington Post, discussing unintended consequences to higher

education due to the Corona Virus and the aftermath of the General Assembly.

The consequential gathering of the worthies included progressive legislation on

firearms, abortion, marijuana, redistricting, and more, but was it as

apocalyptic as some conservatives are making it seem? Norm and J.R. also dig

into the numbers of Super Tuesday’s results in Virginia’s Democratic Primary

for President and share what it means for the November General Election.

In the main interview, J.R. is joined by Michael Petrilli, co-editor of HOW TO EDUCATE AN AMERICAN: The Conservative Vision for Tomorrow’s Schools (Templeton Press), which is a series of essays by noted conservative writers on education reform, including Michael Barone, Bill Bennett, Arthur Brooks, Jonah Goldberg, Yuval Levin, Heather Mac Donald, and many others. Pitrelli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, offers personal insights on his interest in education reform, as well as recounting his journey to become one of the leading voices in the movement. Additionally, we explore the topics of charter schools and school choice, the importance of knowing our nation’s history, individual character, accountability in learning (including the Standards of Learning/testing), the cost of higher education, and the value of learning a trade.

Links of note:

* Review of the book from Psychology Today

* Is School Choice Enough? (Petrilli in National Affairs)

* CDC Funding by State

* Virginia Registration and Turnout Statistics (1976-Present)

* Results of 2020 March Democratic Presidential Primary

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcast

American Commitment is an organization seeking to inform the American people about opportunities to expand and grow the American economy through free-market ideas. Phil Kerpen, American Commitment's president, joins the show to discuss the organization and current restrictions on Wi-Fi technology.

Kerpen penned an article about how a substantial portion of the frequency spectrum was set aside twenty years ago for its specific use in automobile communication. However, car manufacturers are not making use of that spectrum for a variety of reasons, yet vehicles are still getting safer. Kerpen argues that this spectrum should be returned from the government to be used in the open market.

Links of note:

American Commitment

FCC Should Open Up 5.9 GHZ Spectrum For Faster, Better WIFI (Kerpen)

DOT Open Comment Page (now closed to comment) with Supplementary Information

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn or Stitcher.- Subscribe to the podcast to automatically download new shows to your device when they are uploaded. (How to from Apple Podcast, Google Play, TuneIn and from

American Commitment is an organization seeking to inform the American people about opportunities to expand and grow the American economy through free-market ideas. Phil Kerpen, American Commitment's president, joins the show to discuss the organization and current restrictions on Wi-Fi technology.

Kerpen penned an article about how a substantial portion of the frequency spectrum was set aside twenty years ago for its specific use in automobile communication. However, car manufacturers are not making use of that spectrum for a variety of reasons, yet vehicles are still getting safer. Kerpen argues that this spectrum should be returned from the government to be used in the open market.

Links of note:

American Commitment

FCC Should Open Up 5.9 GHZ Spectrum For Faster, Better WIFI (Kerpen)

DOT Open Comment Page (now closed to comment) with Supplementary Information

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn or Stitcher.- Subscribe to the podcast to automatically download new shows to your device when they are uploaded. (How to from Apple Podcast, Google Play, TuneIn and from

The Foundation for American Christian Education has been around since 1965, with its origins in California. Today, it is headquartered in Virginia and hosts one of the most outstanding libraries of original works by the Founders and those who influenced them that you can find at The Hall-Slater Library.

Joining me on the podcast is only the second president of F.A.C.E., Dr. Carole Adams, to discuss the reason for the organization, the curriculum they provide to both private educators and those who home school, in particular, "The Principle Approach", STEM as part of their curriculum, the success of students who subscribe to this method, adult and continuing education, and religious plurality.

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device2) Go to Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn or Stitcher.- Subscribe to the podcast to automatically download new shows to your device when they are uploaded. (How to from Apple Podcast, Google Play, TuneIn and from Stitcher)3) Added tip: Connect your device via Bluetooth, USB, or even 3.5mm to your car radio, select the aux or media input on your radio for your device, and press play on your device for the show either on the post or through Apple Podcast/Google Play/TuneIn/Stitcher.