Hood analyzes state, national issues

State governments across the country face daunting budget challenges. John Locke Foundation President John Hood‘s documentation of those challenges in the latest issue of National Affairs continues to attract attention. An article in The Atlantic quoted Hood on the topic, while Louisiana’s “Hayride” blog promoted Hood’s story, and the same state’s Pelican Institute for Public Policy interviewed Hood for an audio podcast. Closer to home, the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer quoted Hood this week in a profile piece on Gov. Beverly Perdue. Syndicated columnist Scott Mooneyham cited Hood in a column about the impact of Democrat Marc Basnight’s decision to resign one day before officially losing his 18-year hold on the top leadership post in the N.C. Senate. The Charlotte Post interviewed Hood for an article about potential privatization of state alcohol sales. Hood’s contributions to National Review Online’s “Corner” blog continued this week, including an entry involving U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-11th District, and the recent shooting of an Arizona congresswoman.