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Report cards:
A’s, D’s and F’s
It’s
report card time for the Old Dominion. First, the good
news. Virginia earned straight As for its work closing
the income gaps between rich and poor and for attracting
high-tech firms, according to the Corporation for Enterprise
Development, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Only
four other states — Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Minnesota — fared as well in the ranking, now
in its 16th year. Last year Virginia got a B.
The
bad news? When it comes to tobacco, Virginia’s
a dolt. The American Lung Association handed Virginia
“F’s” for not restricting smoking in
public places and for having the lowest per-pack state
tax on cigarettes in the U.S. The Old Dominion didn’t
do much better, earning “D’s” for restricting
youth access to tobacco and for its handling of its
share of the $206 billion settlement 46 states won from
tobacco companies in 1998. The lung association wants
more spending on health warnings; Virginia has added
other things, such as doling out free cash payments
to tobacco quota holders.
Virginia
Business - February 2003
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