Hood offers N.C. budget ideas

As the N.C. General Assembly returned to work this week, its agenda focused on filling a $3.7 billion hole in the next state budget. John Locke Foundation President John Hood offered lawmakers ideas for addressing that budget shortfall — without raising taxes — in a column the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer published Sunday. Conservative Refocus News and the Larson 4 Liberty blog picked up that column. Hood returned to the WPTF Radio airwaves this week to serve as afternoon guest host Thursday. He repeats guest hosting duty today. Senate Republicans’ daily press clipping e-mail highlighted Hood’s column this week analyzing Gov. Beverly Perdue’s decision to back away from privatization of state liquor sales. Vending Times and the Poker Herald publicized Hood’s prediction that Perdue has traded an interest in liquor-sale privatization to focus instead on legalizing video gambling. Both Fwix.com and UPI promoted a Triad Watch blog entry that cited Hood’s recent commentary on redistricting reform. Hood’s contributions to National Review Online’s primary blog, “The Corner,” continue with entries on topics such as Indiana congressman Mike Pence’s decision not to run for president.