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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