2009

RALEIGH — A smoking ban proposal under consideration in the N.C. House and Senate would create a “major threat” to personal freedom and property rights. That’s the assessment a John…

Either version (House or Senate) of the smoking ban bill is a major threat to personal freedom and property rights. The Senate is considering a bill that would prohibit smoking in “public places” and “places of employment,” such as restaurants. The House version has the same general prohibition, but it also would include a very narrow exception for businesses that do not serve or allow entry to minors.

RALEIGH — Continued bad unemployment news should prompt North Carolina lawmakers to rethink plans for raising taxes. That’s the assessment of a John Locke Foundation analyst with a Ph.D. in…

RALEIGH — Local governments will serve their communities best through policies that limit taxes and regulation, while protecting private property from unnecessary government intrusion. Those are some key concepts driving…

RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers should reject many ideas now included in the state Senate’s budget plan, if they want a responsible blueprint for state government spending. That’s the assessment…

Policymakers in the many local governments of North Carolina face a host of important challenges. This issue guide offers solutions to problems that confront North Carolinians at municipal and county levels. The common thread in these recommendations is freedom. By increasing individual freedom, local governments can foster the prosperity of all North Carolinians and keep open avenues to innovative solutions from enterprising citizens.

RALEIGH — The latest increase in North Carolina’s unemployment rate should signal government leaders to stop pursuing policies that have no chance of improving the economy. That’s the assessment of…

RALEIGH — Only 14 of the 100 North Carolina schools served by state dropout prevention grant recipients saw substantial improvement in dropout and graduation rates from 2006-07 to 2007-08. Those…

Only 14 of the 100 schools that received services from dropout prevention grant recipients had substantially lower dropout rates and higher graduation rates from the 2006-07 to the 2007-08 school year. Of the five types of recipients awarded grants, grants to non-profit organizations appeared to have the most success.

RALEIGH — The John Locke Foundation’s “Back to Basics” state budget proposal would shave 10 percent of total spending from North Carolina’s budget plan. It also would set state…